|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) recently honored its finest principals and assistant principals during an awards ceremony sponsored by the Dade Association of School Administrators (DASA) at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
Walter C. Hall, from Leisure City K-8 Center, won top honors as the District’s Principal of the Year. For the past 20 years, Hall has been an educator at M-DCPS, eight years as a teacher and 12 years as an assistant principal at several schools, including Miami Southridge, Homestead, and Miami Norland high schools.
Hall recently won the 2025 Florida Taxwatch Principal Leadership Award, recognizing him as one of the state’s 15 most successful principals from high-risk K-12 schools, based on school data and the interaction with students and the community.
“My educational philosophy, ‘You can’t teach what you can’t manage’ underscores the importance of creating a positive, well managed learning environment where all students feel respected and valued,” Hall said.
Hall’s efforts to improve the lives of his students go beyond the classroom. He introduced the Backpack Program with Caring for Miami, which helps needy students by giving them backpacks filled with food on Fridays, and the Mobile Food Market Initiative, which provides families at his school with fresh produce and groceries.
Melissa M. Miller, of Frederick Douglass Elementary School, was recognized as Assistant Principal of the Year. A 14-year education veteran, Miller was a teacher and reading coach for eight years before becoming assistant principal at Shadowlawn Elementary School for two years. In 2021, she became an assistant principal at Frederick Douglass Elementary School.
Upon her arrival, her goal was to increase the number of students performing at grade level. The school created the initiative GLEAM (Grade Level Engaging Affirming Meaningful Instruction) to help every teacher understand that engaged students who feel validated are less likely to be disruptive. Three years later, the school now has a B-rating, and proficiency levels have increased in language arts, math, and science.
“Meaningful instruction is essential in education, and when students engage in meaningful learning experiences, they feel empowered to take ownership of their education,” Miller said.
Tiffany C. James from Dr. Frederica S. Wilson/Skyway Elementary School won Principal of the Year Runner-up, and Tiffany Hayes, Norland Middle School, won Assistant Principal of the Year Runner-up.
The Principal of the Year winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a three-year lease on a car sponsored by Headquarter Toyota. The Assistant Principal of the Year will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a three- to five-day cruise with an ocean view stateroom courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group.
This event is made possible through a partnership with Headquarter Toyota, Equitable, United Healthcare, EdFed, Royal Caribbean Group, Gassant Enterprises, Curriculum Associates, Horace Mann Educator’s Corporation, BENCOR, Hand2 Mind, Arey Jones Educational Solutions, and Corebridge Financial.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
