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New school leaders: Volusia County Schools approves principal appointments, transfers

Seabreeze, Beachside, Champion and Tomoka will all have new principals for the 2026-2027 school year.

  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Schools
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The Volusia County School Board approved new principal and assistant principal appointments at its meeting on Tuesday, June 2, with several Ormond area schools seeing new leadership for the 2026-2027 school year.

Seabreeze High School assistant principal Jodi Lewitt will lead the Sandcrabs as their new principal following the departure of Tucker Harris, who is moving on to become the director of secondary schools for Volusia County Schools. Lewitt has been with Volusia County Schools since 2004, and served as the assistant principal at Seabreeze since 2022.

Under Tucker and Lewitt's leadership, Seabreeze went from a "C" to an "A" school. 

"I'm committed to building upon that foundation while continuing to advance our school's mission and success," Lewitt said. "... Thank you for this incredible opportunity. I'm excited, humbled and ready to serve this community with dedication, integrity, and pride. Claw up!"

Seabreeze isn't the only area school whose most recent principal has moved to a district position. At Beachside Elementary, Christina Donohue will become the new principal, succeeding Dr. Leigh Prokop, who is now the director of elementary schools for the district.

Donohue comes to VCS from Brevard County Public Schools, where she served as a middle school assistant principal. She worked for Brevard for 21 years.

"To the students and staff and families at Beachside Elementary, I am thrilled to become a part of your school community," Donohue said. "I look forward to getting to know each one of you, celebrate the great work already happening and partnering together to ensure every child is supported, challenged, and inspired."

Tomoka Elementary recently said goodbye to Principal Julie Roseboom, who retired at the end of this school year after a 40-year career with VCS. Roseboom had been Tomoka's principal since 2018.

Now, Kelly Moore will lead the Braves as their new principal. Moore was previously the assistant principal at Chisholm Elementary and has been with the district since 2013. 

"It is important that every child feel supported, inspired, and valued each and every day and I know I'm entering a building with this strong belief," Moore said. "I'm excited for all that lies ahead and feel incredibly proud to become a part of the Tomoka family."

Champion Elementary in Daytona Beach is also getting an new principal, as Steffan Mallory will become the coordinator of education enhancement for the district's alternative education sites. The school's new principal will be Samantha Fabulich, who had been Champion's assistant principal since November 2025. She has been with the district since 2000, and worked as a teacher at Pathways Elementary for 21 years. 

"We are champions on the move," Fabulich said. "We have moved, we have progressed in a great direction, and I am just so excited to keep it going even further."

Other principal appointments in the district include Dr. Faith Harris of Lake County Public Schools to Blue Lake Elementary in DeLand; Amy Carey, ESE assistant principal at Heritage Middle to George Marks Elementary in DeLand; Hilary Blum, assistant principal at Mainland High, to Volusia Pines Elementary in Lake Helen; and Bobbie Jo Grieve, assistant principal at University High, to River Springs Middle in Orange City. 

The School Board also approved seven assistant principal appointments, including Peggy Trinidad at Hinson Middle School. Trinidad was recently an administrative dean at the school. She has been with VCS since 2017.

"I accept this position of assistant principal with great pride and humility," Trinidad told the School Board.

Mainland High School is also getting a new assistant principal in Dr. Vonda Morris, who recently worked as a dean at Spruce Creek. Morris has worked for the district since 2001, including almost 20 years as a teacher at Spruce Creek.

"Now I fly from the nest, morphing into a Buccaneer, adorning the gold and the blue," Morris said. "Thank you for this opportunity to grow professionally as I embrace that Buc pride."

Other assistant principal appointments include: Dawn-Marie Boggs, dean at Silver Sands Middle, to Discovery Elementary; Esther Morse, resource teacher at the district level, to Starke Elementary; Rylee Bryant, teacher on assignment at Timbercrest Elementary, to Timbercrest Elementary; Angel Jordan, dean at Palm Terrace Elementary, to Turie T. Small Elementary; and Octavius King, dean at Orange County Public Schools, to Pine Ridge High.

Blue Lake Elementary Assistant Principal Cheryl Selesky was also promoted to coordinator of ESE for the district.

Additionally, the School Board approved 21 transfers. Among those is Chief of Staff John Cash, who will now be the principal at Creekside Middle. 

Tomoka Elementary Assistant Principal Wendy Reaves has been transferred to Chisholm Elementary. Turie T. Assistant Principal Charles Bennett was transferred to Tomoka and Hinson Middle Assistant Principal William Case was transferred to Seabreeze.

 

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