As the district prepares to close out the 2019-20 school year, leaders are also making plans for next school year. That includes administrative changes at several schools.
In August 2021, a new school will open in Four Corners serving students in kindergarten through 8th grade and relieving crowding at Sawgrass Bay Elementary and Windy Hill Middle schools. Selected to serve as the principal of the still-to-be-named K-8 school is Andrea Steenken, the current principal at Sawgrass Bay Elementary. She has served as a Lake County teacher, instructional coach and district curriculum specialist. She worked a short time in Orange County as a middle school assistant principal and as a district administrator before returning to Lake County in 2016 as the principal of Sawgrass Bay. This change will become effective in November 2020, giving Steenken time to prepare her school and the community for the changes ahead. A new principal for Sawgrass Bay will be selected this fall.
When next school year ends in May 2021, Clermont Middle School will close its doors for good and construction will begin on the new Aurelia Cole Academy, another K-8 school, that will open in August 2023. Rob McCue, the principal of Clermont Middle, has announced that he will retire in June. Scott Voytko, the current principal of Cypress Ridge Elementary, which is across the street from Clermont Middle, has been appointed to serve as principal at Clermont Middle for its final year while maintaining his role as principal at Cypress Ridge. In addition to his years serving as an elementary principal, Voytko previously worked as a middle school teacher and was Vice Principal at Green Cove Springs Junior High School.
Marlene Kurecki (formerly Straughan) is heading back to Mount Dora High School, where she began her teaching career and later served as the school’s assistant principal for four years. Most recently, Kurecki has served as Principal of Triangle Elementary, remaining in the Mount Dora feeder pattern where she has continued to grow community partnerships while leading Triangle’s significant student achievement gains. She will serve as principal of Mount Dora High, following Dr. Rhonda Boone, who has accepted a new administrative position in the district in support of a growing partnership with Lake-Sumter State College.
Filling the principal spot at Triangle is Debbie Hartog, a life-long resident of Lake County, where she has spent her career in education. During her 25 years as an educator, she has had many opportunities to lead as a teacher, mentor, coach and administrator. She spent the last six years at Triangle Elementary, the last five of which were as its Assistant Principal. Hartog is Lake County’s 2020 Assistant Principal of the Year.
