December 12, 2025
With excitement building for the Putnam County School District to open the brand new Palatka Intermediate School in August 2026, the district is announcing leadership changes for schools in Palatka.
These decisions elevate familiar school leaders who will ensure smooth transitions and maintain consistency for students, staff, and families as new schools open.
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Cathy Oyster, current principal of Palatka Jr.- Sr. High School, has been named the inaugural principal of Palatka Intermediate School. Ms. Oyster previously served as an assistant principal at Kelley Smith Elementary and has a strong background in elementary and secondary leadership. According to Superintendent Rick Surrency, “Ms. Oyster brings energy, a strong focus on school culture, and a commitment to academic excellence. I am confident her leadership will help set a strong foundation for Palatka Intermediate and create a positive learning environment for students and staff from the very beginning.”
Dr. Michael Chaires, currently an assistant principal at Palatka Jr.- Sr. High School, has been named interim principal of Palatka Jr.- Sr. High. Dr. Chaires was the 2024 Florida Assistant Principal of the Year and is in his twenty-first year working at the school. During that time he has always been a strong advocate of students and teachers. Superintendent Surrency shared, “Dr. Chaires has served an entire generation of students at Palatka Jr.-Sr. High in many roles and understands the needs of the school and community. His experience and familiarity with the campus will support a smooth transition and allow the school to continue focusing on the success of students and staff.”
Looking ahead to the opening of Palatka Primary School in August 2027, the district has named Mechele Higginbotham as the school’s future principal. Ms. Higginbotham is the current principal of James A. Long Elementary School and also the district’s 2026 Principal of the Year. She will remain as principal at James. A Long Elementary during the 2026–27 school year as she prepares to open Palatka Primary. “Ms. Higginbotham has done a phenomenal job at James A. Long, increasing the school grade from a C to a B last year. She has built a culture of growth with high expectations and will provide strong, consistent leadership for our kindergarten through second grade students and their families,” stated Surrency.
These leadership changes are part of phase 1 of the school district’s revitalization plan. With the opening of Palatka Intermediate in August 2026, there will be one school year of temporary moves before Phase 2 is completed and Palatka Primary opens in August 2027.
The graphic below outlines the revitalization timeline for the 2026 through 2028 school years in the Palatka central part of the district.
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