Lee County School District announces 2023 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year
The Lee County School District announced its 2023 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year.
Brandy Macchia, principal at Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School, was named Principal of the Year. Harns Marsh Middle School Assistant Principal Joseph Restino is the Assistant Principal of the Year.
Both winners will go on to represent the district in the Florida Department of Education's Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year competitions. Both will be recognized by the school board in January.
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Candidates were nominated by district leadership after submitting a resume and completing writing tasks, according to the district. A selection committee, made up of administrators and community members, reviewed and selected the winners.
Here's more information on the winners:
Principal of the Year
Macchia was chosen for her commitment to her students and her community, according to the district's press release. She creates a positive school culture, high expectations for student achievement and supports staff to achieve student learning goals.
“Brandy's school was a shelter before, during and after the Hurricane for our citizens with special needs,” Lynn Herrell, executive director for leadership and professional development, said in the release. “She created a family atmosphere for everyone in attendance. She never left even to take care of her own home and family.”
Macchia began her teaching career in Lee County in 1996, according to the release. She has served as a turnaround principal, principal lead and director of elementary curriculum and instruction.
“I know that my purpose is to serve and I choose to find other people who also believe that is their purpose and mission,” Macchia said in the release. “They know my question always is, 'is it right for kids?' And if the answer is it’s right for kids, then that’s what we’re doing.”
Assistant Principal of the Year
Restino began his career in Lee County as a math teacher in 2010, according to the release. He was assistant principal at Lehigh Acres Middle School before transferring to Harns Marsh Middle in 2020.
“It’s great to be Assistant Principal of the Year, but it’s more important to me to use this as a platform to celebrate the teachers and outstanding staff members in this building,” Restino said in the release.“This award is a validation of their hard work. They come to school every day, they meaning every staff member and every student, ready to give their all.”
Restino was chosen because of his ability to collaborate with staff to create a school wide community of learners and his role as a mentor to new and aspiring assistant principals, the release stated.
“One of the things that I admire most about Dr. Restino is that he believes that his job extends beyond the classroom and his work day never ends,” said Harns Marsh Middle School Principal Alex Dworzanski in the release. “As a true servant leader, and lifelong learner, he has shown in more ways than one his contribution to the profession and the community as a whole. Community leaders and district leaders reach out to him to add value to their programs.”
The finalists
Principal of the Year finalists
Doug Palow at Heights Elementary
Linda Buckley from Tanglewood Elementary
Assistant Principal of the Year finalists
Dr. Mia German at Franklin Park Elementary
Christopher Drake from Bonita Springs High School
Nikki Ross covers education for the Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News. She can be reached at NRoss@gannett.com, follow her on Twitter @nikkiinreallife, Instagram @reporternikkiinreallife or TikTok @nikki.inreallife.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 2023 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year for Lee Schools
