Philip Bullock
Walker Elementary School

“We can never lose sight of the fact that every student is unique with very different academic and social needs. Therefore, instruction must be adjusted to meet these needs,” says Philip Bullock, in his fourth year as principal of Walker Elementary School. An educator for more than 30 years and a father of five children, Mr. Bullock has firsthand knowledge of what students need to achieve success. “We cannot only teach the curriculum, we must also teach the child and meet them where they are, not where we want them to be.”

Kathryn Marlow
Seminole Middle School

Having served nearly a decade at Seminole Middle School, Kathryn Marlow is a firm believer that “student learning increases significantly when the student has a positive relationship with the teacher and knows that the teacher truly cares.” This lover of rock and roll music is dubbed by her students as a cool principal. Ms. Marlow believes, “it is critical to offer engaging curriculum and courses that speak to the 21st century learner. High-interest classes such as the Dark Side of Fairy Tales and Sports & Politics take reading in middle school to the next level. Courses such as Theme Park Engineering will have students running to class.”

Cory Ann Smith
Ramblewood Middle School

As an educator, Cory Ann Smith focuses on the needs of the students she serves. Whether as a teacher or an administrator, Ms. Smith believes that, “all students need to feel a connection with their teachers and leaders. There must be a genuine caring relationship established for them to learn and grow.” When Ms. Smith entered Florida State University, she was a communications major with a goal of becoming a news broadcaster. More than 20 years later, she is in her fifth year as the principal of Ramblewood Middle School and does not regret her career change. “I am exactly where I was meant to be.”