School district announces Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 31, 2024

BEAUFORT – The Beaufort County School District proudly honored the 2024 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year at the district’s back-to-school professional development day.

Melissa Pender, Principal of Coosa Elementary, has been named the District's 2024-25 Principal of the Year. Whitney Harris of Mossy Oaks Elementary has been awarded the title of District Assistant Principal of the Year.

“We are incredibly proud of our Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year for their remarkable achievements,” said Superintendent Frank Rodriguez. “Their exceptional leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and community truly stand out.”

Pender expressed her gratitude attributing her success to the community saying, "The teachers, students, the community that I serve, and our staff, this is their accomplishment, not just mine. I’m very honored to be recognized as this year’s Principal of the Year.”

Harris shared her appreciation, stating, "I’m really grateful to receive this award. It’s a testament to the amazing community at Mossy Oaks. That’s from the educators to the families to the students, and I’m definitely grateful for all the mentors who have gotten me to this point. I could not have done it without them.”

The selection process for these prestigious awards involved both peer nominations and applications. The winners were chosen for their exceptional dedication, hard work, and positive impact on their schools.

Left to right: Dr. Mellow Lee, BCSD Deputy Superintendent; Melissa Pender, Coosa Elementary Principal; Whitney Harris, Mossy Oaks Elementary Assistant Principal ; Dr. Frank Rodriguez, BCSD Superintendent

The Principal of the Year will now have the opportunity to compete at the state level, showcasing the outstanding leadership that defines Beaufort County

Supporting video footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qCdzmAbhN0