New principal named for Garden Elementary School in Venice

Archer to relocate from Glenallen Elementary in North Port

Amy Archer. Contributed photo
Amy Archer. Contributed photo

Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Lori White has appointed Amy Archer as the next principal of Garden Elementary School in Venice, effective June 8, the district has announced.

Archer has served as principal of Glenallen Elementary School in North Port since 2007, a news release says.

Longtime Garden Elementary Principal John McQueen retired in February, the release notes. Sandra Russell, former principal of Tatum Ridge Elementary, is serving as acting principal at Garden through the end of this school year, it adds.

“It has been a privilege and honor to serve as the proud principal of North Port’s ‘first and finest,’ Glenallen Elementary,” said Archer in the release. “The staff at Glenallen are exceptional educators who put their whole heart into providing high quality service to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of the students they serve,” she added in the release. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my career at Garden Elementary, another wonderful community school. I am excited to lead and serve in the community I hold near and dear to my heart.”

Laura Kingsley, the district’s executive director of elementary education, said in the release, “I am delighted that Amy was selected to lead Garden Elementary. She has lived in Venice for 26 years. Becoming the principal at Garden allows her to bring her passion for educating children closer to her home. Amy is a great advocate for her teachers, students and families and a talented instructional leader who is held in high esteem by her colleagues.”

Archer has been an administrator at Glenallen Elementary since 2004, the release points out. She has been with the district since 1999. Before becoming principal at Glenallen, she served as curriculum coordinator at Garden Elementary (2003-04) and was a fourth-grade teacher at Venice Elementary (1999-2003), where she was the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2002-03, the release notes. She taught fourth grade at Chickasaw Elementary in Orlando in 1998-99, it adds.

Archer has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, the release continues.

She has been married to Venice CPA Bryan Archer since 2007, the release notes. “They are both graduates of Venice High School and have a great sense of pride in the community of Venice,” the release says.

Garden Elementary School is located at 700 Center Road in Venice.