Miami-Dade Public Schools names 2025 Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year

Miami-Dade County Public Schools has announced its top school leaders for 2025, honoring outstanding educational leadership at the Dade Association of School Administrators’ (DASA) Annual Award Ceremony on Thursday, April 17, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Miami.

Walter C. Hall, principal of Leisure City K-8 Center, was named the District’s 2025 Principal of the Year. Hall, a veteran educator with 20 years of service at Miami-Dade Public Schools, was also recently recognized with the prestigious 2025 Florida TaxWatch Principal Leadership Award. The award honors 15 top-performing principals across Florida from high-risk K-12 schools, selected based on school performance data and strong community engagement.

Melissa M. Miller, assistant principal at Frederick Douglass Elementary School, was named Assistant Principal of the Year. Miller has spent 14 years in education, beginning as a teacher and reading coach before serving as assistant principal at Shadowlawn Elementary School. She joined Frederick Douglass Elementary in 2021.

Runners-up included Tiffany C. James, principal of Dr. Frederica S. Wilson/Skyway Elementary School, and Tiffany Hayes, assistant principal at Norland Middle School.

In recognition of their achievements, Hall will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a three-year car lease sponsored by Headquarter Toyota. Miller will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a three-to-five-day ocean-view cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group.

The annual DASA ceremony celebrates the dedication and leadership of school administrators across the district.