Panther Pride on Parade

Palatka Junior-Senior High School students and employees lauded one of their administrators Friday during a parade and pep rally in honor of him being named Florida’s Assistant Principal of the Year.

Michael Chaires remained humble and grateful after being notified he’d been named the state’s top assistant principal. School employees and students packed the Palatka High gymnasium, plastered his face around the school and led him on a parade through the halls to celebrate his award.

“Attention’s not my favorite thing, but I do appreciate all the love and support that I’m getting from everybody,” Chaires said. “It’s overwhelming.”

Faculty and staff members wore shirts and pins that bore his face and read, “Ain’t no (assistant principal) like the one I got.” Others held signs with his picture and congratulatory messages on them.

Students made their own posters to display during the pep rally. One student even asked Chaires to autograph a poster the student created.

Chaires said he was surprised to see state officials in the school’s front office to deliver the news in person.

“(Principal Cathy Oyster) tricked me to get me into the front office (by) telling me we were meeting with a parent,” Chairs recalled. “And as soon as I turn the corner, I see cameras.”

The assistant principal has worked at the school for 19 years, Oyster said. Chaires, a Palatka High graduate, should be considered one of the school’s legends, she added.

“I was over-the-moon excited for him,” Oyster said. “He is a quiet, behind-the-scenes worker – head down, doesn’t want recognition, doesn’t want the attention. For people to actually give him that, it was very hard for him. It was hard for him to accept, but, ultimately, I’m very proud of him.”

She said Chaires connects with the students and their families, invests in students’ futures no matter who they are and makes sure to help pupils get on the right track, whether that be scholarships or anything else that could boost their futures, she said.

Chaires taught social studies and was a school counselor before becoming an assistant principal. Oyster said he puts his background as a counselor to great use, and his knowledge helped ease the school’s transition from ninth through 12th grades to a school that accommodates grades seven through 12.

“He knows what they need and is able to have so many more conversations with families about the opportunities moving forward,” Oyster said.

Tenth grader Tre’Myia Watts has been at the school for two years, and although she’s never interacted with him one-on-one, she has benefitted from his hard work. She described Chaires as a fun assistant principal who deserves the local and state recognition he received this week.

“He’s very nice,” Watts said after the pep rally. “He’s just a good person to be around. I’m very happy for him and proud.”

The people who packed the gymnasium were also proud of Chaires. Oyster said she was glad his hard work was recognized at the state level.

Among 67 nominees for Assistant Principal of the Year, Chaires was selected alongside Kristin Stevens and Holli Winter, assistant principals in Lee County and St. Johns County, respectively, as finalists earlier this month.

Oyster, who is nearing the end of her first school year as principal at Palatka High, said Chaires has been a blessing who has helped her transition into her current position. He knows the school’s ins and outs and helped her learn what works and doesn’t work so the administrative team can solve problems and not repeat ineffective tactics, she said.

“I can’t say anything bad about him,” Oyster said. “I don’t know that you will ever find anybody who will say anything bad about him. He is a wonderful human being.”