Brent Frazier

Brent Frazier has led one of the most significant academic turnarounds in Lake County during six years as Umatilla High School principal.

Umatilla ranked at the bottom among the county’s public high schools five years ago. Since then, the school has improved its state accountability score by more than 300 points to a total of 682 — a mark Frazier says is the highest ever recorded by a Lake County high school. 

His leadership has also earned state and national recognition. Frazier was named Florida’s Principal of the Year in 2023 and Florida Principal of the Year in 2024 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. 

Frazier is quick to credit the teachers and staff around him.

“When I hire teachers, I don’t just offer them a job,” he says. “I offer them a chance to make an impact.”

That focus on impact extends beyond academics. Frazier says a school’s responsibility is to prepare students for life after graduation with a plan, work experience and skills to succeed.

During his tenure, Umatilla increased participation in Cambridge AICE courses, grew industry certification opportunities and added an engineering pathway focused on aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering.

That focus on impact continues to drive him as he and his dedicated staff prepare students not just to graduate, but to leave Umatilla ready for what comes next.