Michelle Cino and Rebekah Cook honored by Marion County Public Schools
Marion County Public Schools recently announced the district’s choices for 2024 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year.
Ocala Springs Elementary Principal Michelle Cino and Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks Assistant Principal Rebekah Cook, this year’s honorees, received an in-person visit from School Superintendent Diane Gullett on Nov. 14, according to an MCPS press release.
Cino, with MCPS for 22 years, earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education at St. Leo University and master’s degree in educational leadership from NOVA Southeastern University, the press release stated.
Cino served as a teacher at Reddick-Collier, Sparr and Evergreen elementary schools and as assistant principal at Legacy, Anthony and Wyomina Park elementary school and assumed the position of principal of Ocala Springs Elementary in 2019, according to the press release.
“I chose teaching as a profession because I wanted to ensure students loved learning and couldn’t wait to wake up and come to school in the morning,“ Cino wrote, in part, in an email to the Star-Banner.
Cino stated: By “helping teachers grow and feel strong in their craft, that transfers over to students. I knew I wanted to help more teachers and school staff be the best they could be in a positive environment.”
“When I was a teacher, I became more confident with the support of administrators. I knew I wanted to help more teachers and school staff be the best they could be in a positive environment. I strive to build strong relationships with all family members of my students, so we can work together as a team toward academic success,” she wrote.
“I’m incredibly honored to represent Marion County Public Schools as the Principal of the Year… I’m so proud of the work each educator and employee does each day to ensure student safety and success,” she stated.
Cook has been with MCPS since 2009, when she joined as a teacher at Horizon Academy.She has served as assistant principal at Belleview, Lake Weir and Liberty middle schools and served as a district-level math coach and program specialist, the press release stated.
Cook began serving as assistant principal at Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks this year, according to the press release.
Cook earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Leo University and master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education, the press release stated.
In an email, Cook credited her sister and family with providing an atmosphere during her childhood that led her toward a career in education.
Cook stated that “between my sister, my parents, my high school English teacher, my high school algebra teacher, and my passion of wanting to be a helper, (teaching) was ingrained in me.”
Cook wrote that she can “take the ideas of others as well as build upon systems we have put in place for students to become better learners on a larger scale… I also get to work with students at a larger scale through mentoring and helping them set goals and achieve those goals for their future.”
Cook wrote that she is honored to be selected.
“There are so many this award could go to, and I am greatly honored to be selected to represent my fellow colleagues and Marion County Public Schools,” she wrote.
Cino and Cook now move forward to the Florida Department of Education state level competitions for Florida’s 2024 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year, the MCPS press release indicated.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Michelle Cino is principal of the year and Rebekah Cook is assistant principal of the year
