Superintendent of Schools, Kathy Burns, recently announced newly appointed administrators for the 2023-24 school year.
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Superintendent of Schools, Kathy Burns, recently announced newly appointed administrators for the 2023-24 school year. Submitted photos
West Nassau High School
Richard Pearce
Principal
Richard Pearce is an experienced educator and leader who has dedicated his career to improving students’ lives in the Callahan community. With a background in Exceptional Student Education and a passion for science education, Pearce has spent more than 16 years as a dedicated agricultural science teacher and head baseball coach at West Nassau High School.
In addition to his teaching and coaching roles, Pearce has served as a dean and assistant principal at West Nassau High School. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with students, parents and colleagues and is known for his unwavering commitment to students.
Pearce’s leadership style is characterized by his passion for building solid relationships with the community. He believes education is a collaborative effort and that strong partnerships between schools, families and the community are essential for student success.
West Nassau High School
Lester Smith
Assistant principal
Lester Smith is a passionate educator who has dedicated his career to serving students, staff and the community. With more than 14 years of teaching experience and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Florida, he has proven to be an effective leader in the education sector.
As an assistant principal of curriculum/operations at Lake Shore Middle School and assistant principal of curriculum at Alfred I. duPont Middle School, Smith has demonstrated his commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment that fosters moral and academic growth for all students.
Smith’s expertise in educational leadership and his passion for teaching has made him a valuable asset to the education community. His dedication to his profession is evident through his commitment to ongoing professional development and his willingness to go above and beyond to support his students and staff.
He is committed to serving his community and positively impacting the lives of his students. Smith returns to West Nassau, his alma mater.
Yulee Middle School
Kyanne Way
Assistant principal
Kyanne Way is a highly accomplished professional with more than eight years of experience. She holds a master of education in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida and is certified in Exceptional Student Education K-12 and Educational Leadership at all levels. Way is a consummate detail-oriented individual dedicated to serving all stakeholders in her work.
Her proven knowledge of training development, lesson planning and instruction has been honed through her experience as an instructional coach, department chair and school-based ESE point of contact. Way has also worked as a school counselor and ESE teacher, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her work.
Way facilitates transition meetings and consistently demonstrates the utmost professional and ethical standards in her work. Her passion for improving student achievement is evident in her work, and she is always seeking new challenges that will allow her to continue to grow professionally while supporting a diverse group of students, teachers and faculty. In all her roles, Way has shown herself to be a highly skilled and dedicated professional, committed to helping students achieve their full potential.
Yulee Primary School
Whitney Jones
Assistant principal
Whitney Jones is an accomplished educator who has dedicated more than a decade to improving student learning and promoting instructional leadership. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Florida State College of Jacksonville and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education.
Jones began her teaching career at Yulee Primary School, quickly establishing herself as an effective educator and team leader. She later transitioned to Wildlight Elementary, where she served as the grade-level team leader and helped to improve student achievement. Recognizing her outstanding work, she was named Nassau County’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.
As a reading coach at Southside Elementary School, Jones excelled by supporting students and staff, developing professional learning opportunities and creating targeted plans to increase student achievement. She is passionate about promoting a growth mindset and believes that everyone has the potential to improve and develop to their fullest potential.
Yulee High and Yulee Middle School
Susan Smith
Assistant principal
Susan Smith is an experienced teacher and leader in the education industry. She has taught Exceptional Student Education at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School and has been a job coach for ACCESS students for nine years. Smith’s passion for education and commitment to her students has made her an invaluable school community member.
Smith has also held various leadership positions throughout her career, including serving as the Exceptional Student Education department chair, school assessment coordinator and summer school administrator for Yulee Middle School and Fernandina Beach Middle School. She was also part of Nassau County School District’s Secondary ELA Planning Team.
Smith’s dedication to her profession has earned her the respect of her colleagues and the admiration of her students. She is known for her ability to connect with students and create a positive learning environment that promotes growth and development.
Hilliard Elementary School
Tracy Miller
Assistant principal
Tracy Miller is an accomplished educator with more than two decades of experience. She holds a master of education from William Howard Taft University, a bachelor of science in Exceptional Education, K-12, and an associate of arts from the University of North Florida. She has a range of certifications, including Mentally Handicapped, Prekindergarten/Primary Education, National Board Certified, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Reading Endorsement and Educational Leadership.
Throughout her career, Miller has held various leadership roles within schools, including assistant principal of Yulee Primary School, Yulee Elementary School’s reading coach, coordinator of a school-wide tutoring program, co-leader of the Great Beginnings program and leader of county and school-based professional development.
