NOVEMBER 12, 2024 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kevin Christian, APR, CPRC, Director of Public Relations

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DOBBS, CARPENTER NAMED TOP SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN MARION COUNTY

MARION COUNTY – Two leaders in Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) received surprise visits Friday morning naming them as the District’s 2025 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year.

Just after 9:30 a.m., East Marion Elementary Principal Sarah Dobbs learned the news during a surprise visit from Superintendent Dr. Diane Gullett and an entourage of well-wishers.

Dobbs, a 13-year  veteran of MCPS, plans to graduate next year with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from American College of Education in Indiana. She joined the District as a teacher at College Park Elementary and rose through the ranks to become a student services manager at Legacy Elementary (2015), assistant principal at Oakcrest and Harbour View Elementary Schools (2017) and her current principal position (2022). She currently holds “highly effective” status as a principal by Florida standards and is actively involved in community and professional opportunities. She is also Marion County’s 2014 Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Dobbs graduated from the University of South Florida, holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and completed her specialist degree from American College of Education last year.

A short time later around 10:30 a.m., Gullett and the entourage travelled south to Lake Weir Middle School to surprise Constance Carpenter as Marion County’s Assistant Principal of the Year.

Carpenter joined MCPS in 2004 as a teacher at Belleview Middle School and furthered her career as a District-based program specialist for English Language Arts (2015), a Content Area Specialist for Literacy at Lake Weir and Howard Middle Schools (2017), student services manager at Osceola Middle (2021), and assistant principal at Oakcrest Elementary (2022). She was named to her current assistant principal position at Lake Weir Middle in 2022. Carpenter graduated from the University of North Florida with her bachelor’s degree and American College of Education with her master’s in Educational Leadership. She aspires to use her experience in researched evidenced strategies to improve the teaching profession and student achievement.

Dobbs and Carpenter advance to state-level competitions from the Florida Department of Education to become Florida’s 2025 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year.

For more information contact the Public Relations Office.

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Principal Sarah Dobbs, East Marion Elementary School

Assistant Principal Constance Carpenter, Lake Weir Middle School