Osceola County schools will have two new principals when school starts back up Aug. 10. The School Board approved these appointments at its June 7 meeting:
Dr. La Tonia Harris, Principal at Liberty High School: Dr. Harris replaces Misty Cruz, who will become the principal at Parkway Middle. Harris comes from Harmony High, where she was Learning Resource Specialist and Assistant Principal. She also served as Principal for Charter Schools USA (2014-2019) and Principal of BridgePrep Academy of Osceola (2019-2020). She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University, and both a master’s degree and doctorate's degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Henry Hoyle, currently the Principal at Denn John Middle, will fill Harris’ role at Harmony.
Valerie Martinez, Principal at Thacker Avenue Elementary School for International Studies: Martinez has been an Assistant Principal at Thacker Avenue since 2019, and worked in Osceola schools since 2002 as a teacher, ESOL specialist, curriculum specialist and district coordinator.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Molecular/Microbiology from the University of Central Florida, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University.
In addition, Lonnie Howard, a dean at St. Cloud Middle School, will become an Assistant Principal at Denn John Middle School to replace Dania Perlaza, who will assume the same role at Bellalago Academy.
Information for this report submitted by the School District of Osceola County.
