Dear Mariner Middle School Family,
I am truly honored and excited to introduce myself as the
next Principal of Mariner Middle School. I have heard so many great things
about this community, and I’m looking forward to getting to know each of you
and becoming part of the Mariner family.
I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After
graduating from college and getting married, my wife Tamara and I made the
decision to move to Broward County, and that’s where my journey in education
began. I started as a middle school Language Arts teacher and taught for seven
years before moving into school leadership.
I served as an Assistant Principal at Deerfield Beach Middle
School for six years, and then had the opportunity to continue that role at
Sunrise Middle School. After about nine months, I was named Principal at
Sunrise, where I’ve spent the past five years.
That experience meant a lot to me. We were able to do some
really special things as a school community, growing from a “C” school in
2021–2022 to an “A” school for the 2025–2026 school year. Along the way, we set
school records in Science and Civics proficiency and Middle School
Acceleration, and we saw gains in ELA and Math that hadn’t been accomplished in
over 14 years. Our current projected results are the highest the school has
seen since the 2005–2006 school year. I share that not just as a point of pride,
but because I believe deeply in what’s possible when a school community works
together with a shared focus.
I’m a firm believer in accountability, shared leadership,
and using data to make informed decisions, but just as importantly, I believe
in people. Strong relationships between students, staff, families, and the
community are what truly drive a school forward.
On a personal note, my wife Tamara and I have been married
for nearly 19 years, and we are the proud parents of two daughters, Sara (14)
and Madison (10). This transition is especially meaningful for our family
because Madison will be joining Mariner Middle this year as a sixth grader.
Like many of you, I’ll be walking into this school not just as a principal, but
as a parent, and that means a lot to me.
I truly believe that a school reaches its full potential
when it has the support of its families and community, and I’m committed to
building those relationships from day one.
My official start date is July 1st. I plan to host a
meet-and-greet at the school shortly after so anyone who would like to stop by
and introduce themselves can do so. I will also be organizing an event for
business and community partners who are interested in supporting our students
and school.
I am incredibly excited to bring what I’ve learned over the
past 19 years in education to Mariner Middle School. More than anything, I am
looking forward to meeting you, working alongside you, and building something
special together.
Sincerely,
Ryan Atwood
Incoming Principal
Mariner Middle School