M-DCPS honors outstanding Principal, Assistant Principal of the Year
(L to R:) Host Eric Yutzy of WPLG Local 10, School Board Members Dr. Steve Gallon III, Lubby Navarro, Mari-Tere Rojas, Perla Tabares Hantman, Principal of the Year Maritza Jimenez, Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, School Board Chair Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman and Board Member Susie V. Castillo.
School Board Members Lubby Navarro, Mari-Tere Rojas, Perla Tabares Hantman, Dr. Steve Gallon III, Assistant Principal of the Year Cisely Scott, Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, School Board Chair Dr. Lawrence S. Feldman, Board Member Susie V. Castillo and DASA Executive Director Delio G. Diaz.
By Daisy Gonzalez-Diego
Maritza D. Jimenez, who serves as principal of Hialeah Gardens Middle School, won top honors as the District’s Principal of the Year. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) honored its finest principals and assistant principals at an awards ceremony sponsored by the Dade Association of School Administrators (DASA), on April 6 at Jungle Island.
Jimenez has served as principal of Hialeah Gardens Middle since 2008. She brings more than 20 years of experience in administration and curricular expertise. She began her career teaching Special Education at Henry H. Filer Middle School in 1997.
Cisely Scott of Lenora B. Smith Elementary School was recognized as Assistant Principal of the Year. Scott, who began her career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a classroom teacher at Kensington Park Elementary in 2000, has served as an Assistant Principal at Lenora B. Smith Elementary since 2012.
The Principal of the Year winner received $3,000 and the Assistant Principal winner received $2,000. Also recognized at the ceremony was Principal of the Year Runner-up Miguel Veloso of Miami Springs Senior Adult and Community Education Center and Assistant Principal of the Year Runner-up Carl Robinson of Winston Park K-8 center.
