College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Spotlights Jon Prince

The St. Lucie County School Board in Florida recently announced that Nova Southeastern University alumnus Jon Prince, Ed.D., will be appointed as the new superintendent at St. Lucie Public Schools.

Prince is a Florida native and grew up in Fort Walton Beach. He earned his bachelors and master’s degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Florida. After a year of teaching elementary school, Prince moved to Palm Beach County and taught middle school science. During this time, he completed his Educational Specialist degree in 1999 and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice in 2002. Prince said that receiving his education from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice has opened many doors in his career and allowed him to build a great network of educators and administrators throughout the process.

Prince is a first-generation college student and was inspired to pursue a career in education by his high school science teacher Mr. Woolwine. Prince said, “Mr. Woolwine cared about his students. He made them feel valued and important. Mr. Woolwine genuinely cared about getting to know his students. He showed me the impact that educators can have on their students’ lives.” Because of this influence, Prince values the importance of a transformational relationship with his students and staff.

Before being appointed to Superintendent, Prince served as Deputy Superintendent of St. Lucie Public Schools. Prince assisted with orchestrating Superintendent Gent’s vision of accountability, high standards and rigor in our public schools. The St. Lucie County School District has soared from 45th to 28th in overall academic performance while ranking as high as 22nd out of 67 districts. In addition, St. Lucie Public Schools ranks in the top 10 in the State for graduation rate, improving from 75% to 95% over the last six years. St. Lucie Public Schools is one of only four districts in Florida to maintain a graduation rate of over 90% for five consecutive years.

Prince resides in Florida with his wife, Heather and their four children. Prince is a proud advocate for public education, believing that equity and access to accelerated coursework will create a thriving community in St. Lucie County.

The Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice wishes you the best of luck as you step into your new role. We know you will continue to accomplish great things for the St. Lucie Public Schools!

Posted 03/25/22