- December 28, 2024
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“Flagler Palm Coast High School would not be ‘Florida’s Proudest Campus’ without Mr. Phil DeAugustino,” wrote former FPC Principal Dusty Sims in a letter of recommendation to the Flagler Schools Teacher of the Year Selection Committee.
DeAugustino, FPC's Teacher of the Year, is by his own admission, not a traditional Teacher of the Year choice. He is a school counselor and department chair. But during his 37 years at FPC, his contributions to the school are lengthy, noted Sims, who is currently Florida Department of Education’s state executive director for School Improvement.
Sims wrote that DeAugustino played a pivotal role in “curriculum alignment” for FPC’s Fire Academy, “a program that stands as a model for the state.” He also was one of the founders of FPC’s International Baccalaureate program and helped develop articulation agreements with nearby colleges and universities to allow students to dual enroll and earn college credits while still in high school, Sims' letter says.
As a school counselor, DeAugustino’s caseload includes all IB students and students whose last names fall in the Wal-Z alphabetical range. Before becoming a counselor, he taught psychology and American history.
Education seems to be the family business, he said. His wife, Sherry, is a fifth grade teacher at Riverbend Academy in Ormond Beach. Both of his parents were teachers. His mother taught for over 30 years and his father was a hall of fame coach and teacher for 48 years. Two of his brothers are in education, including Steve, FPC’s longtime wrestling coach and athletic director. Aunts, uncles and cousins are educators. One aunt is in her 52nd year as a teacher “and still going strong,” DeAugustino said.
DeAugustino said his favorite part of his job is the diversity of the student population he works with.
“I have students of all levels of ability with a variety of successes and challenges,” he said. “Each day is unique in what we face to meet the students' needs. Where teachers may develop a lesson plan for the day to follow, we have to be prepared for whatever comes our way each day. Whether a scheduled meeting, academic need or crisis, school counselors never have a typical day.”
Each day has its challenges, he said, but the rewards are plentiful: seeing a student overcome a difficult situation or celebrate an achievement or simply connecting with them as their advocate.
Ultimately, the greatest motivator is handing them a diploma after working alongside the students for four years. School counselors love graduation!
— PHIL DEAUGSTINO, FPC Teacher of the Year
“Ultimately, the greatest motivator is handing them a diploma after working alongside the students for four years. School counselors love graduation! Without a doubt, it is by far the greatest sense of happiness in our jobs,” DeAugustino said.
After 37 years, DeAugustino is well-connected to FPC. His daughter and two sons graduated from FPC. Former students return to enroll their own sons or daughters or to become teachers and colleagues.
“We have many FPC alumni on our current staff. It's great to be a part of that community,” he said.
DeAugustino said he has been “blessed to have grown up in a great family that provided a blueprint for me and my wife to create a loving family of our own. Professionally, I have been fortunate to always be surrounded by amazing colleagues at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Fellow teachers, guidance counselors, support staff and administrators have mentored me and taught me so much.”
In his leisure time, DeAugustino said he loves to exercise and spend time with his wife and kids and now five grandkids.
