Top Principal and Assistant Principal Announced at Commissioner of Education’s Leadership Summit

February 8, 2016

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Top Principal and Assistant Principal Announced at Commissioner of Education’s Leadership Summit
~ School leaders recognized for outstanding leadership and collaboration ~

Tallahassee, Fla., February 8, 2016 – Today, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart named Rhonda Hunt from Eustis Heights Elementary School in Lake County as the 2016 Principal of the Year and Anne Bieber from Vero Beach High School in Indian River County as the 2016 Assistant Principal of the Year. These school leaders were honored during the annual Commissioner’s Summit for Principals in Orlando for contributing to increased student performance, safe learning environments and successful partnerships with parents and community members.

“I am honored to recognize this year’s Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year,” said Commissioner Stewart. “They are examples of the strong leaders in schools throughout our state who work hard every day to make sure Florida’s students have every opportunity for academic success. Their dedication and enthusiasm inspire the entire school community to go above and beyond to provide students with the highest quality education possible.”

Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership

Rhonda Hunt, Eustis Heights Elementary School, Lake County

Rhonda Hunt has been a principal for 10 years, during which time she has been involved in a new school opening, establishing parent-teacher organizations, building mentoring programs and drafting grant applications, which have benefitted her students. She is described as an exemplary instructional leader and has been commended for empowering her teachers to be leaders. Under her leadership, Eustis Heights Elementary School has improved its school grade from an F to a C (based on 2014-15 simulated school grades).

Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award

Anne Bieber, Vero Beach High School, Indian River County

Over the last 15 years, Anne Bieber has served as assistant principal at Vero Beach High School, where her principal says she “exemplifies the passion for life, learning and service that one would expect from a leader in the education profession.” Bieber developed and shared a district-wide scheduling method that increases preparedness by enabling students to know the classes in which they are enrolled and educators to know which courses they will be teaching before classes end for the summer. Bieber is also an adjunct instructor at Indian River State College.

The recipient of the 2016 Principal of the Year was awarded a cash prize of $5,000 and $1,000 for their school. The 2016 Assistant Principal of the Year received a cash prize of $2,500 and $500 for their school.

Candidates for these awards were nominated by the superintendent from their respective school district. The Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership was established in 1988 to recognize Florida principals for their contributions to their schools and communities. The Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award was established in 1997 to honor assistant principals that have utilized teamwork and leadership to increase student achievement and greatly improved school environments.

For more information about Florida’s educator recognition and recruitment programs, visit http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/recognition-recruitment.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit www.fldoe.org.