Florida TaxWatch has announced the winners of the 2024-25 Principal Leadership Awards, recognizing 15 principals from high-risk K-12 public schools across several counties in Florida. The awards aim to highlight educational leaders who have made significant changes in their students' lives and promote effective practices among peers.
This year's winners include five principals each from elementary, middle, and high schools. Each principal will also nominate a student for an Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, stated, "Florida TaxWatch established this one-of-a-kind and the only evidence-based Principal Leadership Awards program, which uses comprehensive data to determine the most effective principals in our state, to reward these outstanding principals for the transformational impact they are having both in their schools and in their communities. Congratulations to all of the winners!”
Jeff Kottkamp, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Florida TaxWatch, emphasized the importance of principals: “Principals are the backbone of Florida’s schools – as leaders in their schools, they support and motivate hard-working teachers and ensure students of all ages are provided ample opportunities to succeed. Thank you, to the 15 amazing principals, for all you do inspire and support the children in your schools.”
Cindy O’Connell from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation expressed pride in partnering with the program: “The Florida Prepaid College Foundation is a proud, longstanding partner of the Principal Leadership Awards Program, which creates statewide opportunities and policies that benefit Florida’s students. This program recognizes and rewards 15 effective principals across the state and provides each principal with an opportunity to award a deserving student with an Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship. We look forward to the future development of this program and continued partnership with Florida TaxWatch.”
The PLA program is supported by various sponsors including Charter Communications, FBMC, First Horizon Bank, Florida Lottery, JM Rubin Foundation, Keswick Partners/Step up for Students, Kyra Solutions, MAXIMUS, Suffolk Construction, Team Horner, Tampa Electric Company, Walmart among others.
More details about the PLA program can be found on Florida TaxWatch's website.