Principal credits mentor, emphasizes representation and recovery after Hurricane Milton

An unnamed principal said during the meeting that a former principal, Carolyn Patricia Hill, inspired her to pursue educational leadership and that welcoming students back after Hurricane Milton was one of her most memorable moments.

The principal said Hill "saw something in me well before I saw it in myself," and credited Hill's encouragement and insistence for prompting her to "go back and receive my master's degree in educational leadership." She told the group that representation matters for the student population she serves: "for them to see, someone that looks like them."

The principal described personal background and connection with students, saying she was "brought up by a single parent" and that she did not always have access to resources. She said that lived experience makes it possible to "relate to them" and to show students that barriers can be overcome.

On school recovery after the storm, the principal said the most vivid memory was "when we welcome our students back to school post hurricane Milton." She described the staff and students' shared relief: "The excitement that we as a school community had in seeing our kids because we hadn't seen them for several days... being able to see those smiles, get those hugs, and let them know how much we missed and loved them was definitely a highlight in my principalship."

Addressing the challenges of school leadership, the principal said the job "sometimes can get very lonely" and urged colleagues to lean on others: "there is always someone that I can call on, that I can rely on to support me, give me advice... I just encourage and employ every leader to lean on someone else." She closed by saying students and staff sustain her: "Seeing my kids every day. They definitely are the wind beneath my wings."

No formal actions, votes, or follow-up assignments related to these remarks were recorded in the transcript; specific dates, school name, and additional operational details were not specified.