A special publication by the Village of Palmetto Bay in collaboration with the Education Advisory Committee.

This week, from April 4th to April 8th, we celebrate Assistant Principals Week nationwide in recognition of the enormous contributions of assistant principals to the success of countless students. In addition to supporting staff and instructional personnel, assistant principals help students explore their full potential and provide a learning environment with consistent and high-level leadership.

In Palmetto Bay, we have the great fortune of having amazing school site administrators at each of our incredible schools. One of those administrators is Assistant Principal Tierney Hunter of Miami Palmetto Senior High School. During Monday's Regular Council meeting, Mayor & Council, along with members of the Education Advisory Committee, recognized Mr. Hunter with a Proclamation in honor of Assistant Principal's Week.

Harry Nerenberg provided the following remarks on behalf of the Village’s Education Advisory Committee:

At graduation of a high school it is not the norm for the students and family to celebrate the Assistant Principal who oversees discipline. But Tierney Hunter is not the normal Assistant Principal. He is known for his smile, laugh, charm, and consistency when dealing with the families at Miami Palmetto Senior High and the Village of Palmetto Bay.

Assistant Principals of a high school wears many different hats and today we are celebrating the hard work and efforts of Mr. Hunter and all of the administrators who work so hard to maintain the excellence we have in our village.

Mr. Hunter has been in the area since 2009 and was assigned to Southwood Middle. He made a quick stop at Palmetto to relieve a shortage, and when he left we all felt his void. In a short time he was a reminder of the legend Carl Manzelli. He returned to Southwood but came back to Palmetto a few years later. When the principal introduced him there was a standing ovation by the staff. The Southwood students were so happy. He was a person they could see if there was a problem. He was always available.

Tierney has such a strong commitment to the community. Not only does he do the normal things but he created a program for the at-risk seniors that has increased the graduation rate. He finds the students with issues and finds solutions. He is not afraid to ask for help if it is out of his expertise, but he males sure the child is serviced.

In pre-pandemic days Tierney’s job was a full time job. During the pandemic the administrative staff was there every day along with few essential workers. Their hours were long and at times overwhelming. Creating an online and physical school was so new to them, and there were no complaints. With all of this Mr. Hunter and his team were also completing a new school. His heart and soul were in it for our community.

The normal issues were still there. This additional workload allowed us all to appreciate the Assistant Principals. Mr. Hunter represents what most of his fellow AP’s do for our schools. They are the support for all of our stake holders. The schools serving our Village of Palmetto Bay are lucky to have this high quality of leadership.

Without a doubt Mr. Hunter was our choice to represent the administrators that serve our village. Our schools are the very best with leaders like Tierney Hunter and his fellow Assistant Principals. 

As we did during Student Services Week, we want to take this opportunity to also acknowledge our other amazing Assistant Principals who provide unwavering support to their school Principals, faculty, and most importantly, students!

Coral Reef Elementary

Rachel Pierre-Louis

Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy of the Arts

Sonia Cruz

Howard Drive Elementary

Christina Diaz

Southwood Middle School

Daniel Alvarez

Kristen Jaile

Miami Palmetto Senior High School

Daniel Barreras

Vivian Del Valle

Tierney Hunter

Jesus Tellechea

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