Matanzas High School Principal Stepping Down

Matanzas High School principal Kristin Bozeman will be stepping down from her role at the school, a Flagler Schools spokesperson explained on Monday. The news was first made known on Thursday, via an announcement by Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore. She steps down as she and her family prepare to move to North Carolina. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the students, families, faculty and staff of Matanzas High School,” Bozeman said of her decision. “This community has shaped me as a leader and as a person, and I’m deeply grateful for every lesson, challenge and celebration we’ve shared. As I begin this new chapter, I carry with me a heart full of appreciation for the incredible journey we’ve taken together these past three years.” In her tenure at Matanzas, Bozeman quickly established herself as one of the most respected school administrators in the county. She helmed the (Pirate) ship during a rash of threats against the school in early 2023, speaking to the community about how the school worked to maintain order during an uncertain stretch. In December last year, Bozeman was named Flagler Schools Principal of the Year. The speed with which she notched the award demonstrated how immediately she made her impact felt on the district – Bozeman’s entire career as MHS principal spanned only three years. Prior to working within Flagler Schools, Bozeman worked for 16 years in the St. Johns County School District. She began as a high school English teacher in 2006, before later holding positions such as high school registrar, program specialist for virtual and home education, and later assistant principal. Following a one-year tenure as director of instructional personnel in St. Johns, she made the move southward to Flagler County. “Principal Bozeman has led Matanzas High School with grace, dedication and an unwavering commitment to student success,” Superintendent Moore said. “Her impact is evident in the growth of the campus culture and the many lives she’s touched along the way. While we will miss her presence in Flagler Schools, we fully support her next adventure and look forward to building on the strong foundation she helped create at Matanzas.” The school district says it’s beginning the search for the fifth principal of Matanzas High School as it observes twenty years since it’s been in operation. The district’s spokesperson says Flagler Schools is currently ‘gathering input from stakeholders’.