Booker High School Has a New Principal

The Sarasota County School District announced today that  principal Rachel Shelley has been selected as the new principal of . She has been principal at Phoenix Academy since 2007 and served as assistant principal there for two years. 

Shelley will be replacing Constance White-Davis, who is retiring at the end of the year. White-Davis, who has been in education for 45 years, told Sarasota Patch in December that she was retiring during an interview about . 

Today, Shelley said, was full of mixed emotions. This morning when she received word from the district, she said it was wonderful and full of excitement but felt sad to leave Phoenix. 

The district said her appointment is expected to be approved by the school board at its May 17 meeting and to become effective July 1.

Shelley said what she is looking forward to the most is seeing her students all the way from entering high school to graduation. The Phoenix Academy only has 8th -10th grade students. 

"It's all about looking at and moving student achievement," Shelley said. "I want to help [students] enter that next phase of their lives via college or the work force. I'm looking forward to leading that process."

Stephen Cantees, the district executive director of high schools, said Shelley emerged as the best candidate for the Booker High job from a field of 15 very strong candidates, seven of whom were interviewed for the position.

“From a group of seven extremely qualified principal candidates, Dr. Rachel Shelley distinguished herself as the best person to follow Ms. Constance White-Davis as principal of Booker High School,” Cantees said. “Dr. Shelley is a dedicated educator with a gift for setting high expectations for those in her care and building relationships with students, staff and community.”

Shelley said she is excited about the opportunity to lead an outstanding school. “There were seven extremely highly qualified administrators all hoping to be the next principal of a great school, Booker High School,” she said. “Since I know most of the candidates, I knew it was going to be a difficult decision for the committee. 

“When I received word that I was one of the finalists, I was excited.  When I was notified that I would be the new principal of Booker High School, I was speechless,” Shelley said.

Meeting the neighboring community, Shelley said, is a focus. "I do have an open door policy. Looking forward to having discussion with the community at large," she said. "Looking for ways to expand our VPA program and enhance that.

"There are two types of communities at Booker High, the neighboring community and the arts community," Shelley said. "My goal is to enhance the path of excellence Ms. White-Davis has already laid. My responsibility is to take over that leadership role."

Shelley is a graduate of Riverview High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Bethune-Cookman College and a master’s degree in special education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She also holds a specialist’s degree and a doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University.

According to a district press release, Shelley has worked in the Sarasota County School District since 1989, starting as a physical education aide at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus. She taught first grade and served as a reading teacher and behavior specialist for 10 years. She was an assistant principal at Riverview High School from 2003-2005.