Jacob Ogles
Florida TaxWatch honored innovating educators from around Florida with its annual Principal Leadership Awards. A total of 15 administrators for Florida elementary, middle and high schools gathered for a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.
Participants heard an address from Scott Moss, the CEO of Moss & Associates and a member of the Florida TaxWatch Board of Trustees. He discussed the need to provide assistance to students while also ensuring the quality of education, especially at many of the income-challenged schools where principals being honored operate.
“We see scenarios and situations that are especially difficult, and you have to have a deep devotion to those people to make sure they get through. At the same time, you have to hold them to a high standard. Just because they’re in that situation doesn’t mean we should lower the standard. That means you have to care very deeply and keep that standard of how we’re going to operate and how we’re going to behave high,” Moss said.
“I want to thank you for keeping that standard high.”
Winners included five elementary principals: Carmen Conner, Pineview Elementary School (Leon County); Dawn Wolfe, Lakeside Elementary School (Clay County); Dr. Dawna M. O’Brien, Mila Elementary School (Brevard County); Anthony Montoto, Thonotosassa Elementary School (Hillsborough County); and Robert Gibson, Palmview Elementary (Broward County).
Additionally, five middle school principals were recognized: Dr. Benny Bolden Jr., former principal, R. Frank Nims Middle School (Leon County); Joshua Bing, Conway Middle School (Orange County); Leon Mungin Jr., Highlands Middle School (Duval County); Dr. Henrissa Berry, Young Middle Magnet School (Hillsborough County); and Walter C. Hall, Leisure City K-8 Center (Miami-Dade County).
Finally, five high school principals were named: Jeremy Knapp, Central High School (Bay County); Tracy Taylor, Mellon Learning Center (Putnam County); George Morse, Acceleration West (Orange County); Kevin Tunning, Lake Placid High School (Highlands County); and Reginald Jeudy, South Area Secondary Intensive Transition (Palm Beach County).
The winners also participated in the afternoon in a roundtable discussion, moderated by Florida TaxWatch officials.
Philanthropists and government leaders spoke about the need to support education in the state.
Cindy O’Connell, Director of the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, spoke about how her organization awards scholarships to students at schools led by winning principals. “We believe there’s no single path to success that every path should begin with an opportunity,” she said.
“We understand that today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and workforce,” added Lottery Secretary John F. Davis. “We’re honored to be able to stand alongside the educators who continue to guide them every step of the way.”
