Principals relocate to East County schools

EAST COUNTY —Three principals who started their careers in education in the Manatee County School District share the bittersweet taste of change, as they transfer to East County schools this fall.

Scot Boice, David Marshall and Sharon Scarbrough will replace retiring principals Nancy High, Myra Russell and Janet Kerley, respectively, effective June 30.

Boice will transfer from Electa Lee Magnet Middle School to R. Dan Nolan Middle School; Marshall will transfer from Anna Maria Elementary to Gene Witt Elementary; and Scarbrough will move from W.D. Sugg Middle School to Haile Middle School.

The school officials share the feeling that their future students and faculty members will see strong next chapters of leadership at their schools.

Below, the administrators reflect on their experiences in the school district and what their future students and faculty members can expect.

Scot Boice
In 1982, when Scot Boice moved to Bradenton for a position as a science teacher at Sugg Middle School, the move was a new beginning.

Previously, the Michigan native hadn’t held a position as an educator; the decision launched his career in education and helped him grow professionally, he said.

He sees his next career change, transferring from a school he led for 10 years to a facility run by his longtime colleague, as his next career growth spurt.

“At some point in your career, it’s time for a change,” Boice said.

Boice will replace Nancy High — a principal he has known since 1995, when the duo worked together at Manatee High School. They acted as the school’s assistant principals for eight years, during Boice’s transition from teacher to administrator.

Boice took the principal position at Lee Middle School in 2003.

“I’ve always liked working with middle school students,” Boice said. “For some folks, that age seems challenging. But, the kids are interesting, refreshing and enjoyable.”

Boice hopes to convey not only his passion for his career, but also a leadership style that promotes stability.

“I have a tendency not to bounce around a lot,” Boice said. “I stay put. I bring continuity and consistency for staff and students; I think that’s a good thing.”

David Marshall
David Marshall’s journey in the school district started as a student in a classroom.

Marshall attended Prine Elementary, and then-Bayshore Middle School and Bayshore High School.

Grateful for the education he received, Marshall hopes to give his elementary students an equally strong experience in area elementary schools.

Elementary schools have always been his favorite. He spent the first 18 years of his career teaching second through fifth grades.

“It’s awesome to see children grow from kindergarten to fifth grade, socially and academically,” Marshall said. “In kindergarten, (kids) really need us to teach and help them. By the time they’re fifth-graders, they can move on and do great things in life.”

Marshall started as an administrator in 2003, when he became an assistant principal at Palma Sola Elementary. Two years later, he accepted a principal position at Blackburn Elementary. In 2010, he transferred to Anna Maria Elementary School.

As he prepares to lead Witt Elementary, Marshall hopes to create strong relationships with his future staff.

“My job is to support teachers, to make sure they have the resources they need,” Marshall said. “These teachers step up to the plate in meeting needs, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make them and their students successful.”

Sharon Scarbrough
For Sharon Scarbrough, a Bradenton native who also grew up in area classrooms, her career will come full circle.

She served as the assistant principal at Haile Middle School from 2004 to 2008.

A decade after her career at the school began, she will share all she has learned since she left.

Her work at different schools gave her experiences and life lessons, she said.

“When you move to other schools, you learn from the people you work with,” Scarbrough said. “As a principal, every school has a different personality. You learn from each experience; it makes you a well-rounded leader.”

From Sugg Middle School, Scarbrough learned to create a family environment for her students.

Her time away from her desk helps her create a “second home” feeling at her schools.

“You won’t see me in my office very often,” Scarbrough said. “I like to be out with the kids; I’m a hands-on leader. If I need to go cover a class or run a cash register in the cafeteria, I’ll do that.”

Although Scarbrough, a Bayshore High School graduate, started her career as a long-term substitute teacher at Southeast High School in the late ‘90s, she found her passion when she started working at Haile.

Now, Scarbrough looks forward to leading the school that shaped the rest of her career.

“It feels like I’m coming home,” Scarbrough said.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected]