Both the former internal investigator and the former leader of the teaching union are now principals.
After Cara Cronk retired, Flagler County School Superintendent LaShakia Moore appointed Mike Rinaldi as the new principal of Matanzas High School and Katie Hansen as the new principal of Buddy Taylor Middle School. Kristin Bozeman resigned as the school’s principal after three years, relocating to North Carolina with her family.
Shortly after the two principals announced their exits, the selection process began. The appointments are anticipated to be approved by the School Board this evening.
Hansen has worked for the district for 22 years, four of those years (2014–18) as a Teacher Support Colleague at Buddy Taylor. He is currently the assistant principal at Indian Trails Middle School. She was named the Indian Trails Teacher of the Year in 2013. She used to teach science and math.
Her lengthy position as president of the Flagler County Education Association, the teacher union, which brought Hansen notoriety because she frequently and adamantly stood toe to toe with the district’s negotiating team during collective bargaining sessions, was not mentioned in a district press statement. She has made a decision to join the management team.
On July 1, Hansen will start working at Buddy Taylor. August 11 is the opening day of classes for Flagler Schools year 2025–2026. Hansen said, “It is a great honor for me to be back at Buddy Taylor Middle School as its principal.” I have a particular place in my heart for this school, and I can’t wait to collaborate with our staff and faculty to support our children and their families in achieving their academic objectives.
According to a district announcement, Rinaldi most recently worked for Flagler Schools as the Coordinator of Professional Standards, where he was instrumental in fostering leadership development and advancing district-wide professional practices. He was also in charge of conducting internal investigations into staff members who were alleged to have broken school rules. He brings with him a demonstrated dedication to student success as well as a thorough understanding of the district’s culture.
“I am so grateful for the chance to be the principal of Matanzas High School,” Rinaldi remarked. Following Chris Pryor, Earl Johnson, Jeff Reaves, and Bozeman—all of whom attended the school’s mid-May dedication of its new extension—he will be the fifth principal of the institution. Matanzas has a long history of communal pride and academic achievement. I’m excited to work with our instructors, staff, students, and families to expand on the success opportunities that have been established throughout the years.
On July 1, Rinaldi, who has over 20 years of experience in Florida K–12 education administration, will formally take up his new position.
According to Moore, we are thrilled to have Mr. Rinaldi and Ms. Hansen join Flagler Schools in these significant positions. Both are gifted and seasoned teachers who are passionate about fostering healthy school communities and educating the next generation. Since they both have a high value on putting children first in whatever they do, I have no doubt that they will lead with integrity, vision, and heart.
