Mount Dora Christian Academy Senior Director of Athletics Megan Ziegelhofer has been named the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Female Educator of the Year, the organization announced.

The award recognized Megan’s leadership in fostering both athletic excellence and academic priority among student-athletes. Under her guidance, MDCA has emphasized an environment where competitors are pushed to perform at a high level while developing character and faith.

Coach Ziegelhofer, known affectionately as Coach Z, has built a reputation for leading with vision, integrity and a deep investment in the lives of young people. Whether supporting coaches, encouraging students, celebrating successes or addressing challenges, she models servant leadership and purposeful direction. 

In her role, Coach Z stresses the importance of academics as the foundation for success at the next level.

“There are too many stories of students who forget that in order to be successful at the next level both on and off the field academics come first, so we really try and hit on this point,” she says.

Effective communication is another cornerstone of her approach to athletic administration.

“It takes effective communication to be an athletic director,” Ziegelhofer explains. “I want to ensure that when people visit our campus, they know exactly what to do and where to go.”

She routinely sends welcome emails to visiting schools that include campus maps, directions, facility information and lists of what each team needs to bring. Ziegelhofer notes that game operations, often taken for granted by parents and spectators, require extensive behind-the-scenes planning where lapses in communication can create significant problems.

“Game Night and everything it entails” doesn’t happen by magic, she says. “There are so many steps in that game planning process for every game where poor communication or no communication can really throw a wrench into things.”

As I write this I can honestly say I have seen Megan’s amazing influence myself. When MDCA was in the Sunshine State Conference Championship football game a few years ago in Lakeland, the team played at 1pm in scorching hot temperatures. Megan was squirting cold water on players necks and making sure everyone stayed hydrated. Not just the players but the fans and students in the stands as well. 

That’s the kind of person Megan is. She is a caring individual who is among the best people you will ever meet no matter in the classroom at the fields or just being an every day genuine person.

MDCA officials have praised the impact Megan makes daily on campus and the example she sets for students, coaches and the Lake County community.

Congratulations to Coach Z” on this prestigious statewide honor.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Keep leading by example.