Miami-Dade Public Schools has announced the recipients of its prestigious Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year awards for 2025. Walter C. Hall, serving at Leisure City K-8 Center, has been honored as the District’s Principal of the Year. With a career spanning over 20 years within Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Hall recently received the 2025 Florida Taxwatch Principal Leadership Award. This accolade highlights his exceptional contributions as one of the state’s top 15 principals leading high-risk K-12 schools, emphasized by his effective use of school data and strong community engagement.
Melissa M. Miller, from Frederick Douglass Elementary School, has been named Assistant Principal of the Year. With 14 years of educational experience, Miller’s career began as a teacher and reading coach before transitioning to an assistant principal role at Shadowlawn Elementary School. Since 2021, she has continued her leadership at Frederick Douglass Elementary School.
Recognition was also given to Tiffany C. James of Dr. Frederica S. Wilson/Skyway Elementary School, who was named Principal of the Year Runner-up, and Tiffany Hayes from Norland Middle School, who received the Assistant Principal of the Year Runner-up title.
The Principal of the Year award includes a $2,000 cash prize and a three-year car lease sponsored by Headquarter Toyota. The Assistant Principal of the Year will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a cruise lasting three to five days, featuring an ocean view stateroom courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group.
These awards were announced during the Dade Association of School Administrators’ Annual Award Ceremony, held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Miami on Thursday, April 17th.