Umatilla High School Principal Brent Frazier has been named Florida’s Principal of the Year by the Florida Department of Education. Frazier, who was previously selected as Lake County’s Principal of the Year, beat out two other finalists for the award.

During Frazier’s first year as Umatilla High School’s principal, the school improved its state grade from a “C” to a “B” by earning 168 more points, one of the largest increases in the state. Additionally, Frazier expanded the Cambridge AICE program, allowing all students to take college-level courses, resulting in a more than 600% increase in the number of AICE exams taken.

Frazier also increased the number of industry certification tests given and passed, which resulted in a 27% increase in industry certifications earned by Umatilla High School students. The principal’s success continued as he launched an engineering pathway for the 2022-2023 school year.

Frazier has been an educator for 21 years, and prior to his role as Umatilla High School’s principal, he served as a middle school principal and an assistant principal. Under his leadership, Umatilla Middle School improved from a “C” to a “B” state grade.

Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay commended Frazier in a letter of recommendation to the Florida Department of Education for his dedication to improving the school and his commitment to ensuring all students have access to advanced coursework and industry certifications. “It was by far the largest increase in Lake County and, surely, one of the largest in the state – and this was Mr. Frazier’s first year as a high school principal!” Diane says.

Frazier’s achievements and leadership have earned him the recognition of Florida’s Principal of the Year.