The Martin County School District named its 2023-2024 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year on November 17, 2023, honoring two outstanding school leaders with the recognition.
Lauren Gifford of Port Salerno Elementary School was named Principal of the Year and Tiffany Roth of Bessey Creek Elementary School was recognized as the Assistant Principal of the Year. Superintendent Michael Maine and members of the District leadership surprised the two veteran educators during a Principals and Directors Meeting.
“Tiffany's work ethic, drive, passion, and commitment to Bessey Creek Elementary; your ability to push yourself to transition into a leader that wants to become a principal," Superintendent Michael Maine said as he shared the news with Ms. Roth. "You are a natural-born leader. And it is an incredible honor for your Martin family to give you this award as our Assistant Principal of the Year.”
"The things that you do at Port Salerno, the way you lead, the way your employees rally around you. Your bureau of school improvement process that you're going through, and from the day you stepped foot on that campus twice as interim principal and then as permanent principal," Superintendent Maine said to Ms. Gifford. "You're doing some incredible things at that school. And that school is going to show a miraculous turnaround. We believe in you and your processes and what you're doing and you deserve this honor."
Ms. Roth grew up attending the Martin County School District and has served the District as an educator since 2007. Ms. Gifford has been a valuable educator in the District since 1998, serving in various roles.
The District will submit both administrators' names to the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) for consideration in the statewide Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership and Outstanding Assistant Principal Achievement Award recognition programs. Winners of these awards will be announced in spring 2024.
View a recap of the surprise announcement here: