Making moves: A look at Polk County Schools new administrators

Paul Nutcher, The Ledger
·6 min read
Polk County Public Schools
Polk County Public Schools

Polk County Schools approved promotions, transfers and new hires for its schools administration positions throughout the district at its Aug. 16 school board meeting.

The following new school administrators and principals were announced along with the release of their backgrounds and qualifications.

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  • Melisa Browning was promoted to principal at Spook Hill Elementary. She is the former assistant principal at Fort Mead Middle/Senior where she had served since 2018. Browning has also served as the principal at multiple schools throughout her career with the district, starting in 2010 when she started as the principal of Stambaugh Middle School. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education at the University of South Florida and a master's degree in educational leadership at USF.

  • Kenneth Henkle was named assistant principal at Laurel Elementary. He was formerly the assistant principal ll at Citrus Ridge Academy since July 2020. Henkle started with the district as a teacher in 2010 at Dundee Ridge Middle Academy. He attended Ohio State University earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and earned a master's degree in educational technological leadership at Nova Southeastern University.

  • Robert Holby is now the assistant principal at Winter Haven High after serving as assistant principal II there. His LinkedIn page shows, he was a science teacher at Lake Region High School and an academic coach for the district with experience in curriculum development, lesson planning, educational technology, training and adult education. Holby has a doctor's degree of philosophy in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of South Florida.

  • Cornell Kirkendoll was promoted to assistant principal at Southwest Middle. She was formerly an assistant principal ll at Southwest since October 2020. She also served as a teacher from 2000 to 2020, respectively at Medulla Elementary, Tenoroc High and Kathleen Senior High. Kirkendoll gained a bachelor's degree in specific learning disabilities at the University of South Florida and then a master's degree in varying exception at USF.

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  • Cassandra Peters was newly hired as director of ESE Curriculum for charter schools and private schools. She previously worked as the ESE Center administrator in Hillsborough County since June 2019. She attended University of South Florida and earned an bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders and a master's in educational leadership. Peters' career began in 1998 as the supervisor of exceptional student support for Hernando County Schools and also served as senior supervisor of student services at Pasco County Schools before going to Hillsborough Schools.

  • Jennifer Rouse was named senior director of professional development, a step up from senior coordinator of professional development training at Polk Schools, a position she had held since August 2018. Her career started in 2005 with Polk County as a teacher at Kathleen Elementary School.

  • Patricia Trejo was newly hired for the director of ESOL position with Polk County Schools. She had worked since 2018 as a program planner for Hispanic/Latino Studies at Palm Beach County Schools. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida and a master's degree in educational leadership at Nova Southeastern.

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The following administration moves were also approved by the school board:

  • Melissa Bearden was transferred from assistant principal at Garden Grove Elementary to assistant principal at Spook Hill Elementary.

  • Angela Birdsong moved from DEAN at Stambaugh Middle in a promotion to acting assistant principal at Southwest Middle.

  • Jessica Gavin was promoted from a teacher at Garden Grove Elementary to acting assistant principal at the school.

  • Katherine Gaymont was promoted from a Katherine school-based coach, Lake Alfred Polytech Academy to acting assistant principal Lake Alfred Poly Academy.

  • Keiva Lark was transferred from assistant principal at McLaughlin Middle, to assistant principal at Lake Marion Creek.

  • Nadia Lewis, a former Kathleen Elementary principal, was newly hired as acting principal of Stephens Elementary.

  • Alexander McLuckey was promoted from Alexander, assistant principal, Highlands Grove, to acting principal at Lewis Elementary.

  • Brenda Norquist was promoted from school-based coach at Sleepy Hill Elementary to acting assistant principal at Highlands Grove Elementary.

  • Shing Palagano was promoted from behavior specialist district wide to acting assistant principal at Lawton Chiles Middle.

  • Heather Palmer was transferred as assistant principal at Spook Hill Elementary, to AP at Auburndale Central Elementary.

  • Tina Ramsey was promoted from school-based coach at McLaughlin Middle to acting assistant principal at McLaughlin Middle.

  • Amy Santangelo, assistant principal at Highland City Elementary, was transferred to the position of assistant principal at Valleyview Elementary.

  • Chabre Timmons was transferred from the role of principal at Spook Hill Elementary to assistant principal at Highland City Elementary.

  • Ingrid Vann was transferred from assistant principal at Jesse Keen Elementary to assistant principal at Crystal Lake Elementary.

  • Brett Wiersema was promoted from teacher to acting assistant principal at Mulberry Middle.

  • Alexandra Wise was transferred from the position of principal at Lewis Elementary to principal at Elbert Elementary.

In other school district news

Polk Schools is holding an "Interview Day" teacher job fair on Wednesday at the Jim Miles Professional Development Center in Lakeland. Schools will conduct interviews with candidates and job offers can be made on the spot.

The minimum teacher salary is $47,500 with health insurance benefits, free employee health clinics, Florida Retirement System benefits, among others. Interested job seekers can register online at polkschoolsfl.com/jobfair or contact recruiters at jobs@polk-fl.net.

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Following the announcement of roving and random searches for weapons at school building entrances, the district sent a press release about some of the other new security measures being shared with parents at polkschoolsfl.com/backtoschool.

“Although we cannot openly discuss all of our safety measures, we’ve made numerous improvements over the years,” said Jason Geary, senior director of communications, but provided the following list of new and existing security measures;

  • All schools have security cameras throughout their campuses.

  • All schools are secured daily to prevent trespassers.

  • Schools have front door security systems to restrict access to the campus.

  • Schools have one or more armed and extensively trained school resource officers (traditional law enforcement officers), or school safety guardians (district employees trained by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office).

  • All school have lockdown alert systems.

  • School and district staff complete a variety of scenario-based training (e.g., tornado, fire, evacuation, lockdown, or act of violence) every year.

  • School staff and students conduct safety drills every year to ensure they know what to do in the event of an emergency.

  • Students and staff are required to wear ID badges daily.

Polk County School District will meet again on Tuesday at the Jim Miles Professional Development Center, 4270 Wallace Road in Lakeland starting with a workshop at 12:30 p.m. and then its regularly scheduled board meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County Schools names new administrators