2018-2019
The recipient of the 2019 Principal of the Year will be awarded a cash prize of $3,500. State finalists will be awarded a check for $1,000, and each district winner will be awarded a check for $270.
2019 Principal of the Year
Michelle Kefford
Charles W. Flanagan High School
Broward County
Michelle Kefford has been an educator for more than 19 years and has been the principal at Charles W. Flanagan High School since 2011. With her at the helm, Flanagan High School earned its first ever A and has received an A for six out of the seven years. Since her tenure as principal, she has initiated several programs including “Kefford’s Kids,” a mentoring program and “Falcon Flyers,” an initiative to enable middle school students to earn high schools credits at Flanagan High. As a passionate educator, she has held various positions on district committees; volunteers on several city and county committees; and works continuously to build school pride and staff morale.
Finalists:
Joshua Balkom
Bay County
Deane Bozeman School
Panama City, FL
Cynthia Emerson
Indian River County
Vero Beach Elementary School
Vero Beach, FL
David Alfonso
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach Lakes Community High School
West Palm Beach, FL
Linda Burris
Pinellas County
Largo Middle School
Largo, FL
District Winners:
Ena Leiba
Brevard County
Sea Park Elementary School
Satellite Beach, FL
Michelle Kefford
Broward County
Charles W. Flanagan High School
Pembroke Pines, FL
Treasure Pickett
Clay County
Oakleaf High School
Orange Park, FL
Beverly Budzynski
Collier County
Sea Gate Elementary School
Naples, FL
Donna Darby
Columbia County
Pinemount Elementary School
Lake City, FL
Diana Locke
Dixie County
Dixie County High School
Cross City, FL
Crystal Lewis
Duval County
New Berlin Elementary School
Jacksonville, FL
Laura Touchstone
Escambia County
Pine Forest High School
Pensacola, FL
Jon Peacock
Flagler County
Indian Trails Middle School
Palm Coast, FL
Sherry Bees
Florida Atlantic University
A. D. Henderson University School and Florida Atlantic University High School
Boca Raton, FL
Cathy Tapley
Florida Department of Corrections
Florida Department of Corrections Avon Park Correctional Institution
Avon Park, FL
Jennifer D’Aquisto
Florida Virtual School
Florida Virtual School - Flex 6-12 - D'Aquisto Schoolhouse
Orlando, FL
Delshuana Jackson
Gadsden County
Havana Magnet School
Havana, FL
Lisa Cropley
Hernando County
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math
Spring Hill, FL
Carla Ball
Highlands County
Avon Elementary School
Avon Park, FL
Ronald Mitchell
Jackson County
Sneads High School
Sneads, FL
Cory Oliver
Jefferson County
Jefferson K-12: A Somerset School
Monticello, FL
Jacob Stein
Lake County
Mount Dora Middle School
Mount Dora, FL
Clayton Simmons
Lee County
Estero High School
Estero, FL
Ann McDonald
Manatee County
W.D. Sugg Middle School
Bradenton, FL
Gary Smallridge
Marion County
Fort King Middle School
Ocala, FL
Christopher Jones
Martin County
J.D. Parker School of Technology
Stuart, FL
Humberto Miret
Miami-Dade County
Miami Southridge Senior High School
Miami, FL
Laura Lietaert
Monroe County
Key Largo School
Key Largo, FL
Rhonda Devereaux
Nassau County
Callahan Middle School
Callahan, FL
Thelma Jackson
Okeechobee County
Seminole Elementary School
Okeechobee, FL
Nadia Winston
Osceola County
Central Avenue Elementary School
Kissimmee, FL
Carin Hetzler-Nettles
Pasco County
Cypress Creek Middle/High School
Wesley Chapel, FL
Christopher Roberts
Polk County
Bartow Middle School
Bartow, FL
Bryan Helms
Putnam County
Interlachen High School
Interlachen, FL
Michelle Barlow
Santa Rosa County
W.H. Rhodes Elementary School
Milton, FL
LaShawn Frost
Sarasota County
Booker Middle School
Sarasota, FL
Mary Williams
Seminole County
Paul J. Hagerty High School
Oviedo, FL
Amanda Riedl
St. Johns County
Mill Creek Academy
St. Augustine, FL
Andrea Popwell
St. Lucie County
St. Lucie West Centennial High School
Port St. Lucie, FL
Nicole Wade
Sumter County
Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School
Lake Panasoffkee, FL
Amy Boggus
Suwannee County
Suwannee Elementary School
Live Oak, FL
Stacy Gotlib
Volusia County
River Springs Middle School of Technology and Innovation
Orange City, FL
Tammy Smith
Walton County
Van R. Butler Elementary School
Santa Rosa Beach, FL