Flanagan High’s principal honored

And the state honor of Principal of the Year for 2019 goes to … Charles W. Flanagan High School’s Michelle Kefford, the state Department of Education announced Tuesday. The guiding force at the Pembroke Pines school since 2011, Kefford, 44, beat out four other principals for the title and a cash prize of $3,500. She has been an educator for nearly 20 years.

“With her at the helm, Flanagan High School earned its first ever A and has received an A for six out of the seven years,” according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “As a passionate educator, she has held various positions on district committees; volunteers on several city and county committees; and works continuously to build school pride and staff morale.”

Corcoran credited Kefford for establishing “Keffords Kids,” a mentoring program, and “Falcon Flyers,” an initiative for middle schoolers to earn high school credits at Flanagan.

Among the four finalists who were in the running with Kefford was Palm Beach County’s David Alfonso, principal of Palm Beach Lakes High School. The other front runners were from Bay, Indian River and Pinellas counties.

Also awarded on Tuesday was Manatee County’s Bernadette Pletcher of James Tillman Elementary School. Pletcher was named 2019’s Assistant Principal of the Year, beating out contenders from Miami-Dade, Putnam, St. Lucie and Suwanee counties.

“I am honored to recognize these educators and their students for tremendous growth,” Corcoran said. “I hope that others will look to them as models for what Florida’s public schools should be for our students.”

Candidates were nominated by the superintendents from their respective school districts. The awards are sponsored by the Florida Lottery.