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Mike Thorpe Recognized as the Best Innovative Educator in Florida.

We know him in the pits as a race fan, and pit crew member when his brothers Keith or Doug raced.  Mike is highlighted in this archive photo when Keith won a Pro Late Model race a few years back. But in Milton, they know Mike as “Mr. Thorpe� principal at Milton High in Santa Rosa County.  Now he is honored statewide.

Details below courtesy of the Pensacola News Journal.

Milton High School Principal Michael Thorpe has been named Florida's 2015 Innovative Principal of the Year by the Florida Council of Instructional Technology Leaders, announced today (Wednesday) at a FCITL luncheon in Orlando.

Thorpe has been an educator in the Santa Rosa County School District for 21 years, currently serving in his sixth year as principal at MHS.

After beginning his career as a math teacher, Thorpe moved into instructional technology, contributing to the development of academic programs and creation of a school-wide culture of excellence in technology, according to an email announcement from the school district.

Thorpe has utilized technology to focus on student improvement in core areas, using interactive smart boards, Read180, Algebra Nation, Achieve 3000, Compass Learning, Discovery Education, GPS devices, FCAT Explorer and educational apps.

Under Thorpe's leadership, Milton High School improved from a D school to an A school in the first year, maintaining an A or B rating ever since.

Using weekly Principal Vodcasts, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Edmodo and YouTube, Thorpe engages students, teachers, parents and the community in all things related to MHS.

Thorpe has presented at multiple statewide and regional conferences, including the Florida Education Technology Conference, Technology and All That Jazz, and the Career and Technical Education Conference.

He has previously been selected as Teacher of the Year, first at Holley-Navarre Middle School and again at Milton High School. Thorpe was also recognized as Santa Rosa County High School Assistant Principal of the Year in 2009.

Thorpe was named the Santa Rosa County Innovative Principal of the Year in 2010, finishing as one of Florida's Top Finalists. In 2014, he was chosen as the High School Principal of the Year for Santa Rosa County.

This marks his second nomination as Innovative Principal of the Year for Santa Rosa County. He is currently a member of the Florida Association of School Administrators, Santa Rosa County Association of School Administrators, the city of Milton Education Committee and the Santa Rosa County District Technology Committee.

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