Manatee Schools Honor Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year
The School District of Manatee County is recognizing two standout leaders whose work has significantly influenced student achievement and school success. Sam Webb, principal of Samoset Elementary School, has been named Principal of the Year, and Dr. Lisandra Tayloe, assistant principal of Lincoln Memorial Middle School, has been selected as Assistant Principal of the Year.
Both honorees will move forward as nominees in the Florida Department of Education’s statewide Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year programs, which highlight exemplary leadership in advancing student performance, strengthening school climate, and building effective community and family partnerships.
Principal of the Year Sam Webb brings a record of academic growth and school transformation to the district’s top honor. Before joining Samoset Elementary, she served as principal of Abel Elementary from 2020 to 2025, where she led the Title I campus to its first A grade since 2011. Abel continued its success with another A the following school year. Her prior leadership roles include serving as assistant principal at Braden River Elementary and Samoset Elementary. Webb holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
Assistant Principal of the Year Dr. Lisandra (Lisa) Tayloe is recognized for her instructional expertise and commitment to school improvement. A former high school teacher and instructional coach, she transitioned into administration in 2020, serving in multiple leadership roles in Hillsborough County. Tayloe earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Florida Southern College and her master’s degree from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. She joined the School District of Manatee County in 2022 as an assistant principal at Louise R. Johnson K–8 School of International Studies and now serves at Lincoln Memorial Middle School. A proud Manatee County resident, she is dedicated to fostering a rigorous, student-centered learning environment.
The district’s selections reflect a continued emphasis on strong, student-focused leadership, with both educators advancing to compete for statewide recognition later this year.
