- July 12, 2025
Flagler Schools has hired from within to fill its two vacant principal positions. Mike Rinaldi, the district’s coordinator of professional standards, will be the new principal at Matanzas High School. Katie Hansen, an assistant principal at Indian Trails Middle School, will be the new principal at Buddy Taylor Middle School.
“It’s a great day when we can promote within our organization,” Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore said.
The School Board made the hires official at its business meeting on Tuesday, June 24, by approving June’s personnel items on the Human Resources consent agenda.
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Rinaldi and Ms. Hansen into these important roles,” Moore said. “Both are talented and experienced educators with a passion for helping educate the next generation, as well as building strong school communities. I’m confident they’ll lead with integrity, vision and heart as they both prioritize putting children first in all they do.”
Rinaldi has almost 20 years of administrative experience and 25 years of education experience in the Volusia and Flagler county school districts. He is completing his eighth year with Flagler Schools, the last two as the coordinator of professional standards in which he was responsible for investigating employee misconduct and ensuring compliance with policies and regulations. He is also a former assistant principal at Belle Terre Elementary School and Flagler Palm Coast High School.
He becomes the fifth principal at Matanzas, replacing Kristin Bozeman, who is moving with her family to North Carolina.
“I’m very excited,” Rinaldi said. “It's an honor and a privilege to be able to to continue the standard of excellence that the principals before me laid out. And I look forward to working with the community collaboratively to move Flagler forward.”
Hansen has worked in Flagler Schools for the past 22 years. Before she became an administrator at ITMS three years ago, she was the longtime president of the district’s teachers’ union — the Flagler County Educators Association. Hansen returns to BTMS where in 2014-18 she was a Teacher Support Colleague — a grant position designed to provide instructional support to other teachers. A former math and science teacher, Hansen was named Indian Trails’ Teacher of the Year in 2013.
Hansen replaces Cara Cronk at BTMS, who is retiring along with her husband, Justin Cronk, who, with Hansen, was also an assistant principal at ITMS.
Hansen was in Hawaii on vacation and unable to attend the School Board meeting.
In a district press release, she said, “I’m truly honored to return to Buddy Taylor Middle School as its principal. This school holds a special place in my heart, and I’m excited to work alongside our faculty and staff to help our students and their families reach their educational goals.”
Rinaldi and Hansen will begin their new positions on July 1.
