4 Pinellas schools to get new principals, more changes expected

By Jeffrey S. Solochek Times staff

Several Pinellas County schools are getting new leaders as the district continues to fill spots left vacant by retirements and reassignments.

Andrew Akapnitis, assistant principal at Fairmount Park Elementary, will move into the principal’s office at the school. The post came open when LaKisha Lawson, the school’s leader since 2019, took a promotion to become the district’s chief transformation officer. Akapnitis has been an educator since 2008, joining the district in 2021.

Kimberle Noorbaksh, assistant principal at Campbell Park Elementary, will become the school’s principal. She replaces Kathleen Young-Parker, who led the school since 2017 until being promoted to the district minority achievement officer post earlier this spring. Noorbaksh began working in Pinellas as a substitute teacher in 2004, and has been in her current role since 2019.

Carmen Harris, principal of Pinellas Park Elementary, will transfer to lead Melrose Elementary. She replaces Melanie Hill-Anderson.

Aaron McWilliams, an assistant principal at Northeast High School, will take the top spot at Pinellas Park Elementary. McWilliams, who joined the district in 2021, has been an educator since 2000, including time as a principal in Duval and Clay counties, and a district-level administrator in Hillsborough County.

Additional moves are planned, including appointment of a new principal for Nina Harris ESE Center. That school’s current principal, Jacqueline Cassidy, was named a principal on special assignment during Tuesday’s school board meeting.

Jeffrey S. Solochek is an education reporter covering K-12 education policy and schools. Reach him at jsolochek@tampabay.com.

4 Pinellas schools to get new principals, more changes expected (tampabay.com)