Each summer, school districts shift their administrative staff — including principals — between schools, with some taking positions within the district itself.
Leadership movement comes as the district prepares for another year of instruction, and its second school year under superintendent Terry Connor. With the first day of school less than a month away on Aug. 10, here is who is on the move in Sarasota County Schools.
Allison Foster, new principal at Southside Elementary in Sarasota
Allison Foster, who served as the interim superintendent of Sarasota Schools following the removal of former superintendent Brennan Asplen, was appointed as the new principal of Southside Elementary School. She assumed her new role on June 3.
Foster earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Wake Forest University, and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University. She earned her M\master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida, and her Educational Doctorate in K-12 Educational Administration from the University of Florida.
She was the district’s interim superintendent from February 2023 to July 2023. Before assuming her current role as the executive director of human resources in April 2021, she was the principal of Phillippi Shores Elementary for 13 years. Foster was also the assistant principal of Toledo Blade Elementary and the assistant principal of Gulf Gate Elementary.
Kirk Hutchinson, new chief of student services for Sarasota Schools
Kirk Hutchinson — the current principal of Venice Elementary — was selected to serve as the new chief of student services for Sarasota County Schools, effective June 3.
Hutchinson earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, College Park; a master’s degree in Administration & Supervision from Johns Hopkins University; and a Doctor of Education from the University of Florida. Before Venice Elementary, he was the principal of Atwater Elementary and the assistant principal of Lamarque Elementary.
Cindy Thro, new executive director of elementary schools for Sarasota Schools
Cindy Thro — the current principal of Atwater Elementary — was selected to serve as the new executive director of elementary schools for Sarasota County Schools, effective June 3.
Thro earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education, both from the University of South Florida. Before Atwater Elementary, she was the principal and the assistant principal of Oak Grove Elementary in Tampa.
Jamie Hannon, new principal of upcoming K-8 school at Skye Ranch in Sarasota
Jamie Hannon — the current principal of Southside Elementary — was selected to serve as the principal of the district’s new K-8 school located at Skye Ranch, effective June 3.
Hannon earned a bachelor’s degree in Visual Disabilities from Florida State University, a master’s degree in Special Education from Florida State University, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Before Southside Elementary, she was the assistant principal of Fruitville Elementary and an assistant principal intern at Phillippi Shores Elementary.
Sean Donovan, new principal of Oak Park School in Sarasota
Sean Donovan — the current assistant principal of Exceptional Student Education at Sarasota High School — was appointed as the new principal of Oak Park School. He assumed his new role effective July 8.
Donovan earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies – with a minor in Spanish – from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University.
Marya Annicelli, new principal of Emma E. Booker Elementary in Sarasota
Marya Annicelli — the current assistant principal of Gocio Elementary — was appointed as the new principal of Emma E. Booker Elementary, effective July 1.
Annicelli earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in Social Science Education from Nova Southeastern University.
Before Gocio Elementary, Annicelli was the assistant principal of Emma E. Booker Elementary from August 2007 to June 2015 — during which she also was acting principal (March to August 2014). She was also an assistant principal Intern at Sarasota Middle and a behavior specialist at Booker Middle.
Michelle Giddens, new principal of Lakeview Elementary in Sarasota
Michelle Giddens — the current assistant principal at Lakeview Elementary — was appointed as the new principal of Lakeview Elementary, effective June 24.
Giddens earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, both from the University of South Florida.
Before Lakeview Elementary, Giddens was the assistant principal of Toledo Blade Elementary from 2012 to 2022. She was also an assistant principal Intern at Taylor Ranch Elementary and an Exceptional Student Education Inclusion Teacher at Taylor Ranch Elementary.
Jessica Fuesy, new principal Laurel Nokomis School in Sarasota
Jessica Fuesy — currently an assistant principal at Riverview High — was appointed as the new principal of Laurel Nokomis School, effective July 1.
Fuesy earned a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Mathematics Education from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Leo University.
Before Riverview High, Ms. Fuesy was assistant principal at Brookside Middle from 2017 to 2023. She was an assistant principal at Raa Middle School in Tallahassee and a teacher at Montford Middle School in Tallahassee, FL.
Raymond Wilson, new principal of Venice Elementary School
Raymond Wilson — the current principal at Laurel Nokomis School — was appointed as the new principal of Venice Elementary School. He assumed his new role on June 3.
Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (K-12) from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida.
Before Laurel Nokomis School, Wilson was the assistant principal of Heron Creek Middle School and the assistant principal of Woodland Middle School.
Jamie Lowicz, new principal at Atwater Elementary School in Sarasota
Jamie Lowicz — the current principal at Oak Park School — has been appointed as the new principal of Atwater Elementary School. She assumed her new role on July 1.
Lowicz earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Central Missouri State University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University. Before Oak Park School, Lowicz served as the assistant principal of curriculum at Sarasota High School and an ESE Behavior Specialist at Riverview High School.
Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Schools leadership: New principals for 2024-25 school year
