FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
CONTACT: Christina Johnson
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Tuesday, February 10, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will proudly announce that former Village Oaks Elementary School Principal Beverly Budzynski is among 15 winners of the Florida TaxWatch 2025-26 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA). Through the program, former Principal Budzynski has also identified one deserving student to receive a full two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship.
The award and scholarship will be presented during a ceremony on the campus of Village Oaks Elementary School, 1601 State Road 29, in Immokalee, Fla., at 1:45PM.
Media are invited to attend and asked to RSVP to Christina Johnson at christina@on3pr.com or by text/phone at 850.339.5773.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp said, “Florida TaxWatch established this one-of-a-kind evidence-based Principal Leadership Awards program, which uses comprehensive data to determine the most effective principals in our state, to reward these outstanding principals for the transformational impact they are having both in their schools and in their communities.
“Leadership of a school is second only to classroom instruction as the most important school-related factor affecting student learning. Principals are the backbone of Florida’s schools – as leaders in their schools, they support and motivate hard-working teachers and ensure students are provided ample opportunities to succeed. We congratulate all of the 15 amazing principals selected to receive this prestigious award and thank them for all they do to inspire and support Florida students.”
Florida Lottery Acting Secretary Reginald D. Dixon said: “The Florida Lottery is proud to partner with Florida TaxWatch in support of the Principal Leadership Awards and applauds each of the award recipients for their outstanding dedication to students and schools. Their diligent efforts make a real difference each and every day. At the Florida Lottery, we believe the path to a brighter future begins with a quality education—and that education starts with exceptional educators. We look forward to continuing this partnership in support of Florida’s students, schools, and future.”
Florida Prepaid Director Cindy O’Connell said: “The Florida Prepaid College Foundation, a proud partner of the Principal Leadership Awards program since 2017, helps create statewide opportunities for students. The program recognizes and rewards 15 effective principals across the state. As part of their award, each principal has the opportunity to grant an Academic A+ Challenge Match Scholarship to a deserving student. We look forward to the program’s future development and continued partnership with Florida TaxWatch.”
About the Principal Leadership Awards Program
Established by Florida TaxWatch in 2013, the Principal Leadership Awards (PLA) program serves to acknowledge and reward educational leaders who are creating meaningful change in their students’ lives, while also promoting their uniquely effective practices among their peers. This program, which is the only one of its kind nationwide, recognizes 15 of Florida’s most successful principals from high-risk K-12 public schools across the state (five principals each from elementary, middle, and high schools, including traditional and charter public schools). Principals are selected based on weighted Florida Department of Education data, not through nominations.
Additionally, Florida TaxWatch is partnering with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and private corporate sponsors to provide one student from each winner’s school with a two-year college scholarship. The winning students – who find out about the scholarship during a surprise announcement the day of the award presentation – are selected by their principal and must meet several criteria that would traditionally make attending college, let alone paying for it, a significant challenge. Through these scholarships, this transformational program is able to change deserving students’ lives and help close the achievement gap.
The PLA program would not be possible without the support of Florida TaxWatch’s generous sponsors, including Charter Communications, Dominic & Debbie Calabro, FBMC Benefits Management, First Horizon Bank, Florida Lottery, Florida Prepaid College Foundation, JM Rubin Foundation, Keswick Partners/Step up for Students, Kyra Solutions, MAXIMUS, Steve & Linda Evans, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, TECO, Walmart, Every Child a Swimmer, The Able Trust and Moss & Associates.
For more information, including a full list of the 2025-26 PLA winners, please click here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it has served since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
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