Meet Principal Leena Itty: Committed to Student Success at Lyons Creek Middle School

by David Volz August 4, 2024

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Meet Principal Leena Itty: Committed to Student Success at Lyons Creek Middle School

Principal Itty at Lyons Creek Middle School in Coconut Creek. {David Volz}

A love for students and a strong desire to help young people succeed are essential qualities Leena Itty, the new principal at Lyons Creek Middle School, looks for in educators.

Itty comes to Lyons Creek from Maplewood Elementary, where she was principal for eight years and brings 25 years of educational experience to her new position.

She is proud of the team she led at Maplewood and the positive learning environment where students excelled academically and socially.

“We moved it to an “A” rated school and organized many clubs and activities. We created a climate of high expectations for instruction and achievement,” said Itty.

Itty is excited about the possibilities at Lyons Creek, an “A” rated school, and looks forward to working with teachers, students, and parents.

According to her, creating a positive school climate and promoting a culture of respect, responsibility, and kindness are important. She wishes to sustain high academic standards by providing courses that meet the needs of all learners, whether they are advanced or struggling.

“We want to build strong, positive relationships among students, staff, and parents,” she said. I also want students to develop leadership skills through clubs, student government, and other extracurricular activities.”

According to Itty, it is essential to focus on students’ social and emotional learning and implement programs that support their personal development.

She wants to provide resources for students’ mental health by providing access to counselors. “I want to help them build resilience, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills, ensure we have a school environment this safe, inclusive, and welcoming for all students,” she said.

As a leader, Itty wants everyone to feel safe and empowered to be successful. She encourages the use of approaches that work, discarding those that don’t, and making tweaks where necessary. She seeks teachers who have a genuine love for their students and for the age of the young people they are teaching.

Itty holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, both from Florida Atlantic University. She taught middle school language arts for four years at Seminole Middle and another four years at Ramblewood Middle. Following that, she served as an assistant principal at Margate Middle for six years before becoming an elementary school principal at Hallandale Elementary for three years.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.