Suncoast Polytechnical Principal Retires

After five years of shepherding from high concept plan through construction to its first graduating class, SPHS Principal Jennifer Putnam has announced her retirement effective Sept. 1.

Putnam was appointed principal of SPHS in June 2007. She had a year to name the school, design the curriculum, recruit the first freshman class and hire the staff before the new school opened in August 2008.

SPHS was intended from the beginning as a new model for technology education. It was created as a magnet school that would attract talented students from throughout the county with an interest in technology and academics.

The curriculum employs the latest technological tools and techniques to teach a college-preparatory curriculum focused on career and technical education, technology, economics, marketing and advertising. The new school was built on the Sarasota County Technical Institute campus to provide students with convenient access to SCTI classes during their junior and senior years.

SPHS graduates are well-prepared to succeed in competitive and prestigious universities. Many also have earned industry certifications that will allow them to enter the job market directly or to pursue post-secondary technical training. Those who do attend college have marketable skills that will enable them to work in their field of interest while they are in school and to reduce their debt burden from student loans.

Putnam holds a doctorate in education administration with a minor in business and finance. She also has extensive experience as a teacher, counselor and innovative high school administrator.

She was principal of a Michigan high school that was named one of the top 100 American high schools by U.S. News and World Report magazine. She also designed, opened and administered a charter high school in Lee County that was recognized by the governor as the eighth-best high school in Florida in year-to-year academic progress.

Putnam, 57, described her service at SPHS as a “passion and a labor of love.” She said she is proud of her accomplishments in her 37 years as an educator, but looks forward to turning her energies to her family and to other professional and community service activities.

Although SPHS will continue to be an independent diploma-granting high school, its administration is being consolidated with SCTI beginning in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. SCTI Director Todd Bowden will be the chief administrator for both schools.

Bowden has announced the appointment of SCTI Assistant Director Trent Terry as the new administrator for SPHS. Putnam will remain on the Sarasota County School district staff through August to support the transition to the new administration.