Martin County - Tuesday June 7, 2022: The Martin County School Board approved seven administrative hires recommended by Superintendent John D. Millay during its Special meeting on June 7. The new hires were approved after a series of administrative reassignments were recommended by Dr. Millay and approved by the School Board last month.
“I am extremely confident in each of these leaders and the many years of successful experience they will bring to their new roles,” Dr. Millay shared. “I appreciate all of the parents and employees who took the time to provide valuable feedback through their completion of our principal search surveys. I know the Martin County School District will benefit greatly from each leader’s expertise and commitment to student success.”
The new hires are:
Ms. Darcia S. Borel, Ed.S. - Principal, Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School: Ms. Borel joins the Martin County School District from the School District of Lee County (Fort Myers, Florida), where she most recently served as the Assistant Principal of Curriculum, Discipline and Professional Development at Trafalgar Middle School. She has many years of experience in school improvement planning, cultivating stakeholder relationships, positive behavioral interventions and supports, recruitment/hiring, professional development, ESE and ESOL oversight, continuous improvement and curriculum integrations.
Ms. Borel earned her undergraduate degree in Child Life from the University of Alabama and graduate degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Mr. Mark Cowles - Coordinator, Social Studies & Special Projects: Mr. Cowles will join the Instructional Services Division from Martin County High School, where he has served as Assistant Principal of both Assessment and Athletics. He has more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and school administrator, specializing in relationship building, project supervision, stakeholder engagement and budgetary management.
Mr. Cowles earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Cortland State University and his graduate degree in Educational Leadership from Barry University.
Ms. Susanna Deutsch - Principal, Pinewood Elementary School: Ms. Deutsch joins the Martin County School District from Broward County Public Schools, where she most recently served as Principal of Peters Elementary School. She has many years of experience in budgetary planning and management, professional development, recruitment/hiring, curriculum implementation, continuous improvement, school improvement planning, course scheduling, data analysis and educator mentorship.
Ms. Deutsch earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Florida International University and her graduate degree in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.
Mr. Troy LaBarbara - Executive Director, Principals & Professional Standards: Mr. LaBarbara joins the Martin County School District from Hernando County Public Schools (Brooksville, FL), where he most recently served as the Director of Exceptional Student Education (ESE). Mr. LaBarbara has served as an educator and school administrator at the middle and high school levels for more than 28 years. He brings a wealth of experience in school improvement planning, ESE advocacy and program implementation, relationship building, professional development, grant implementation, instructional leadership, data analysis and administrative mentoring.
Mr. LaBarbara earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Specific Learning Disabilities, Varying Exceptionalities, Emotional Handicaps and Early Childhood Education from Florida State University. He earned his graduate certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida.
Ms. Sherry Richardson - Principal, Citrus Grove Elementary School: Ms. Richardson will become Principal at Citrus Grove Elementary School after serving last school year as an intervention teacher at Pinewood Elementary School. Prior to her relocation to Florida and employment with the District, she served as a Principal for more than 14 years with Union County Public Schools (Monroe, North Carolina). She brings a wealth of experience in instructional leadership, school improvement planning, relationship building, professional development, recruitment/hiring, policy development and continuous improvement.
Ms. Richardson earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Wingate University and her graduate degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Dr. Melissa Riviotta - Principal, J.D. Parker Elementary School: Dr. Riviotta joins the Martin County School District from Polk County, Florida, where she served as both an assistant principal and principal for Polk County Public Schools. She brings 12 years of experience in instructional leadership, school improvement planning, positive behavioral interventions, relationship building, professional development, data analysis, recruitment/hiring and continuous improvement.
Dr. Riviotta earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Akron and her graduate degrees from Nova Southeastern University and National Louis University.
Ms. Sarah M. Tuthill - Principal, Felix A. Williams Elementary School: Ms. Tuthill will become principal at Felix A. Williams Elementary School after serving last school year as Literacy Coach at Indiantown Middle School. Prior to her relocation to Florida and employment with the District, she served as the Assistant Principal for John Green Elementary School in Dublin, California. She brings a wealth of administrative experience in ESE program implementation/monitoring, discipline, positive behavior interventions and supports, employee supervision and mentorship, recruitment/hiring, relationship building and data analysis.
Ms. Tuthill earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology & Fitness Instruction from the University of California – Santa Barbara and her graduate degree in Educational Leadership & Administration from California Polytechnic State University.
The Martin County School District (MCSD) has earned the Florida Department of Education's academically-high performing school district designation. MCSD maintains robust academic standards, renowned arts and athletics programs, and numerous career and technical education opportunities.