2016-2017

2017 Florida Principal of the Year

The recipient of the 2017 Principal of the Year was awarded a cash prize of $5,000 and $1,000 for her school. The three state finalists were awarded a check for $1,500 and a $375 check for their school, and each district winner was awarded a check for $300 and a $100 check for their school.

Dr. Rachel R. Shelley
Sarasota County
Booker High School
Sarasota, Florida

With more than 28 years of experience in K-12 education, Dr. Rachel Shelley has been praised by her colleagues for her dedication to helping every student succeed and for relationship-based leadership. She motivates students with her mantra, “Every student is college and/or career bound.” Dr. Shelley is a hands-on instructional leader who understands the value of data, and she tracks her school and students’ performance measures to help her make informed decisions.

 

Finalists:

Dr. Earl Johnson
Flagler County
Matanzas High School
Palm Coast, Florida

Kevin Hendrick
Pinellas County
Northeast High School
St. Petersburg, Florida

District Winners:

Elementary School

• Rachad T. Wilson
  Brevard County
  Endeavour Elementary School
  Cocoa, Florida
• Angela Whiddon
  Clay County
  W.E. Cherry Elementary School
  Naples, Florida
• Nakitha Ivery
  Columbia County
  Niblack Elementary School
  Lake City, Florida
• Sarah Sprinkel
  Florida Virtual School
  Orlando, Florida
• Kristina Stratton
  Hernando County
  Westside Elementary School
  Spring Hill, Florida
• Kelly Baysura
  Indian River County
  Treasure Coast Elementary School
  Sebastian, Florida
• David Bordenkircher
  Lake County
  The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake
  Lady Lake, Florida
• Susan Caputo
  Lee County
  Bonita Springs Elementary School
  Bonita Springs, Florida
• William Stenger
  Manatee County
  Robert E. Willis Elementary School
  Bradenton, Florida
• Margarete Talbert-Irving
  Orange County
  Orange Center Elementary School
  Orlando, Florida
• Mary Ann Rodriguez-Perez
  Osceola County
  Boggy Creek Elementary School
  Kissimmee, Florida

Middle School

• Christopher S. Doty
  Highlands County
  Hill-Gustat Middle School
  Sebring, Florida
• Manuel Sanchez III
  Miami-Dade County
  Miami Lakes Middle School
  Miami Lakes, Florida
• Dr. Anthony Lockhart
  Palm Beach County
  Lake Shore Middle School
  Belle Glade, Florida
• Darren Brock
  Santa Rosa County
  Martin Luther King Middle School
  Milton, Florida
• Mia L. Coleman-Baker
  Seminole County
  South Seminole Middle Leadership and Global Connections Magnet School
  Casselberry, Florida
• Nicole Telese
  St. Lucie County
  Southport Middle School
  Port St. Lucie, Florida
• Rose Roland
  Volusia County
  Silver Sands Middle School
  Port Orange, Florida

High School

• Dr. Karlton Johnson
  Broward County
  Blanche Ely High School
  Pompano Beach, Florida
• Dr. Donna A. Richardson
  Duval County
  Mandarin High School
  Jacksonville, Florida
• David Williams
  Escambia County
  Pensacola High School
  Pensacola, Florida
• Dr. Earl Johnson
  Flagler County
  Mantanzas High School
  Palm Coast, Florida
• Kevin Hendrick
  Pinellas County
  Northeast High School
  St. Petersburg, Florida
• Dr. Rachel R. Shelley
  Sarasota County
  Booker High School
  Sarasota, Florida
• Cynthia Williams
  St. Johns County
  St. Johns Technical High School
  St. Augustine, Florida

K-8 School

• Keri Weatherly
  Bay County
  Breakfast Point Academy
  Panama City Beach, Florida
• Lourdes “Lori” Manresa
  Marion County
  Hillcrest School
  Ocala, Florida