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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015
WOTimes.com
LEADERS
of the Pack Three new West Orange-area principals have a combined 57 years of educating students through OCPS. AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE COMMUNITY EDITOR WEST ORANGE
Students at several West Orange County public schools will be meeting new principals and assistant principals when the academic year starts later this month. Tiffany Smid is the new principal at Dr. Phillips Elementary, in Southwest Orlando, and Dr. Athena Adams was hired to replace the retiring Dr. Shirley Fox at Lakeview Middle, in Winter Garden. James Weis is fairly new to Palm Lake Elementary, in Southwest Orlando, having been hired in the middle of the previous school year. In addition, Dr. Angela Murphy-Osborne, former principal of Spring Lake Elementary, will lead the new Independence Elementary, in Winter Garden, and Crystal Davidson has been appointed senior director at Westside Tech Career and Technical Education, also in Winter Garden.
DR. ATHENA ADAMS, LAKEVIEW MIDDLE
Adams was notified in June that she would be the new principal at Lakeview following Fox’s retirement. The Edgewater High School graduate has been an educator for more than 20 years. Her previous appointments were at Carver Middle School, for two years, and Bridgewater Middle, for four years. She said she hopes “to re-
New assistant principals Dr. Phillips High: LaKeitha Black Ocoee Elementary: Machael Dawkins Gotha Middle: Matthew Owens
establish (Lakeview) as a school of excellence in West Orange County and the district. Lakeview should be an A-rated school. Together, with parents and community support, we can and will.” Adams earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Spelman College, in Atlanta. She also has a master’s degree in industrial and organization psychology, a specialist degree and her doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida. The new Lakeview principal said she got into education as her way of serving and ensuring a great future. “I am really excited about coming to Lakeview and being able to serve the West Orange district,” Adams said. “The possibilities are endless, and the future is bright.” TIFFANY SMID, DR. PHILLIPS ELEMENTARY
Smid has been with Orange County Public Schools for 20 years and was interested in education because, she said, “I wanted the opportunity to impact children’s lives in a positive way.” She comes to DPES from Eagle’s Nest Elementary, where she was acting assistant principal. She has also served as a math and science teacher at Ocoee and Chain of Lakes middle schools and has been a senior administrator and director for OCPS’s Professional Development Services. “I am eagerly anticipating a successful and rewarding year, and I look forward to working with the dedicated staff, parents and community to provide exceptional educational experiences for Dr. Phillips Elementary students,” Smid said. “It is my goal to provide a safe and intellectually challenging environment
that will empower all students to become innovative thinkers, creative problem solvers and inspired learners prepared to thrive in the 21st century.” Smid holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education in middle-grade science from the University of Florida and a certificate in educational leadership from Stetson University.
“Lakeview should be an A-rated school. Together, with parents and community support, we can and will.” Dr. Athena Adams, Lakeview Middle
JAMES WEIS, PALM LAKE ELEMENTARY
Weis has served in numerous West Orange County schools in his 17 years of education experience. Prior to becoming principal at Palm Lake, he was assistant principal at Gotha Middle for six months and assistant principal at MetroWest Elementary for eight years. He has also served as teacher, dean and assistant principal at Lakeview Middle. “Palm Lake Elementary is a special place that resonates in the lives of our students, faculty and alumni,” Weis said. “Our teachers truly believe in teaching excellence both academically and socially to prepare our children for successful lives. … (I hope to) maintain the traditions and customs that have become a part of the Palm Lake identity while increasing the academic successes our students have experienced.” Weis did his coursework at Florida State University and the University of Central Florida; he earned his master’s degree at Barry University. A career in leadership has long been on Weis’ mind. “Since I was a child in Cub Scouts, I have always found myself in the role of leader, mentor or trainer in some capacity,” he said. “Teaching was a natural extension of my love for learning and my desire to pass that love on to others.”
“My goal to provide a safe and intellectually challenging environment that will empower all students to become innovative thinkers, creative problem solvers and inspired learners … .” Tiffany Smid, Dr. Phillips Elementary
“Teaching was a natural extension of my love for learning and my desire to pass that love on to others.” James Weis, Palm Lake Elementary