Volusia board approves several administrative appointments and principal transfers

The Volusia County School Board unanimously approved multiple administrative appointments and transfers Tuesday, confirming leadership changes the superintendent recommended.

Appointments approved with unanimous votes included Craig Pender as assistant director for student transportation (effective June 4, 2025); Danielle Johnson as coordinator for community information services (effective June 4, 2025); Yvonne Rushing as coordinator for student services (effective June 4, 2025); Dr. Julia Ullman as coordinator for Multilingual Teaching, Leading, and Learning; Corinne Cobb as principal for Discovery Elementary (effective June 4, 2025); and Alicia Zarbo as principal for Sweetwater Elementary (effective June 4, 2025). The board also approved several assistant-principal transfers at the same meeting.

Each appointment was introduced with a short professional biography and a superintendent recommendation. Craig Pender, who has served the district since 1995 in roles from teacher to coordinator, told the board he was honored and said he looked forward to continuing to serve the district.

Why it matters: principal and coordinator appointments determine school leadership heading into the new year and affect day-to-day operations, staffing and district initiatives. Board members offered congratulations and noted the appointees’ experience.

What’s next: appointees’ effective dates are listed as June 4, 2025; the district will finalize assignment paperwork and prepare transition activities at affected schools. The approved assistant-principal transfers were announced so final staffing rosters can be set ahead of summer work.