Robert Rios-Welsh joined the district in 2025 and serves as Chief Financial Officer. He brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience in public and nonprofit organizations, with a proven record of managing complex budgets, improving audit performance, and strengthening fiscal accountability and modernization efforts.
Before joining the district, Rios-Welsh served as Chief Financial Officer for a nonprofit early childhood education organization, where he led a successful organizational consolidation that generated multi-million-dollar savings, increased teacher compensation, and secured long-term financial stability.
Earlier in his career, he served as Executive Director with the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services, managing a $2.6 billion budget encompassing early childhood education, youth justice, child welfare, administration, and technology services. His leadership contributed to the expansion of early childhood education programs citywide.
He also held director positions with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Georgia Department of Human Services, overseeing $885 million in statewide services.
Rios-Welsh holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Seton Hall University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University, with a concentration in budgeting and financial management. He also completed advanced certifications in governmental accounting from the University of Georgia and applied data analytics (machine learning) through a joint program with New York University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Maryland.
Committed to advancing financial transparency, Rios-Welsh ensures district resources are strategically aligned to support student success and community impact. Outside of work, he is an avid cyclist.
Contact Information
Robert Rios-Welsh, Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
352.671.7720
Robin Deffler, Executive Secretary
[email protected]
352.671.7720