Candidate: Richard Allen Shirley, Jr.

As a native Floridian, and a hometown graduate, I am proud to serve my state and my community in all that I do.  Most recently I was appointed by Governor Ron Desantis to the FHSAA Board of Directors to help drive policy that protects high school student athletes in our great state.  As a conservative Republican I feel it’s my duty to protect students, and student-athletes alike, from the liberal policies being pushed throughout our country.

After receiving a Bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida as a student-athlete, I began my career in education in 2003 as a 6th grade science teacher at North Sumter Intermediate School in Wildwood FL.  As a pre-med major, my teacher certification was achieved through the Sumter County Schools’ alternative certification program.  I then received my M.Ed. from USF in Educational Leadership.  During that time I taught high school Biology and Anatomy and Physiology, while coaching baseball and football at South Sumter High School.

 In 2007 I entered the administrative intern pool of Sumter County.  After serving a short elementary internship I was placed back at South Sumter High School as an administrative intern.  After one year in an intern role I was hired as a full time assistant principal at South Sumter High School.  I served three years in this capacity before being selected for my first principal opportunity at Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School.  During my two years in Lake Panasoffkee our school scores improved each year while maintaining an “A” status.  In 2013 I was placed at South Sumter Middle School as principal and led the middle school to become a National AVID Demonstration School and Site of Distinction.  I was then selected to be the Director of Secondary Education and District Athletic Director for Sumter County where I remained until 2021.  In 2020 I was asked to serve as interim principal at South Sumter High School where I chose to remain coming out of the pandemic, and am still currently serving.  As principal at South Sumter High School we most recently improved our school grade to a “B” for the first time since the pandemic. 

During my career I have had the opportunity to attend many professional development and leadership opportunities.  I have participated in the Leadership Sumter program sponsored by the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, the Commissioner’s Leadership Academy sponsored by the state of Florida DOE, served as a Central Region Director for the Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA), as board member for the Florida Association of Secondary School Principals, and have been an active participant in legislation serving on FASA’s legislative committee for multiple years. 

I would be honored to serve the students and citizens of Sumter County as your next school Superintendent.