Tampa, Fl. (March 5, 2026) – Two outstanding Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) leaders have been recognized by Florida TaxWatch as recipients of the prestigious 2025–26 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA), honoring exceptional principals from high-risk K–12 public schools across Florida.
The awards recognize principals who are making a transformational impact on student achievement while fostering strong school cultures and supporting teachers, families, and communities. Established in 2013, the Principal Leadership Awards program uses comprehensive, evidence-based Florida Department of Education data to identify the most effective school leaders statewide.
Each year, Florida TaxWatch selects five principals each from elementary, middle, and high schools across the state. As part of the award, each honoree will nominate a deserving student from their school to receive an Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship, sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.
The 2025–26 Hillsborough County Principal Leadership Award recipients are:
Middle School
Lipi Datta‑Reid, Principal of
Dr. Carter G. Woodson K–8 School
Nicolas Stamatopoulos,
Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship recipient
High School
Dina Langston, Principal of
Armwood High School
Isaac Bernadin,
Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship recipient
“Leadership of a school is second only to classroom instruction as the most important school-related factor affecting student learning,” Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp said in the statewide announcement. “Principals are the backbone of Florida’s schools, supporting teachers and ensuring students have opportunities to succeed.”
“Strong leadership at the school level makes a measurable difference for students,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “This recognition from Florida TaxWatch reflects the commitment of our principals to high expectations, continuous improvement, and ensuring every student is supported and prepared for success. We are proud of the work happening every day at Dr. Carter G. Woodson K–8 School and Armwood High School.”
About the Principal Leadership Awards Program
The Florida TaxWatch Principal Leadership Awards program recognizes 15 of Florida’s most successful principals from high-risk public schools each year. Unlike nomination-based programs, PLA recipients are selected using weighted student achievement and learning gains data from the Florida Department of Education. The program also partners with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and private sponsors to provide college scholarships to students selected by each award-winning principal.
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