Ocala/Marion schools: Principal Chris Sandy, AP Sarah Dobbs named best school leaders

Joe Callahan, Ocala Star-Banner
·2 min read

Two Oakcrest Elementary School administrators have been named Marion County's principal and assistant principal of the year.

Chris Sandy, who last year helped Reddick-Collier Elementary School get off a state watch list, was honored as the 2022 Principal of the Year while Sarah Dobbs was recognized as the 2022 Assistant Principal of the Year.

Sandy and Dobbs now advance to the state competition, where the Florida Department of Education will select the state's principal and assistant principal of the year for 2022. Those will be chosen in the spring.

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Sandy returned to Oakcrest as principal this 2021-22 school year, 17 ytears after serving in the same role at the same school from 2002-05.

As principal of Reddick-Collier Elementary School in 2020-21, Sandy led that school to a C grade and off the state's school intervention list.

Sandy, who has worked as an educator for more than 50 years (40 with Marion County), served as the school district's executive director of elementary education for several years until she retired in 2012.

Sandy returned in 2016 as a principal on assignment under former school superintendent Heidi Maier, the county's last elected school superintendent.

Oakcrest Elementary School Principal Chris Sandy, right, was honored as Marion County's 2022 Principal of the Year, while Oakcrest Assistant Principal Sarah Dobbs. left, was recognized as the county's 2022 Assistant Principal of the Year.
Oakcrest Elementary School Principal Chris Sandy, right, was honored as Marion County's 2022 Principal of the Year, while Oakcrest Assistant Principal Sarah Dobbs. left, was recognized as the county's 2022 Assistant Principal of the Year.

Under current Superintendent of Schools Diane Gullett, who was appointed by the school board in 2020, Sandy has served as a principal at struggling schools. Sandy was also named Marion County’s 1990 Teacher of the Year.

Dobbs was raised in Marion County. She attended Madison Street Academy, Fort McCoy School, and Vanguard High School. She became the assistant principal at Oakcrest Elementary in 2019.

She joined the district in 2010 and was named Marion County’s Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2014. Both administrators lead and direct learning for 450 elementary students on the Oakcrest campus, 1112 NE 28th St., Ocala.

Joe Callahan can be reached at (352) 817-1750 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeOcalaNews.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marion names Principal Chris Sandy, AP Sarah Dobbs top school leaders