2022 UNCF Soiree – Seminole County, FL

Dr. Connie Woods Collins is an accomplished, experienced educator with an extensive history in the secondary/post-secondary education arena.   Dr. Collins has worked in education for 38 years.  She began her career in Orange County Public Schools as a social studies teacher and worked there for ten years.  She joined Seminole County Public Schools as an administrator in 1994 and served as an assistant principal at Teague Middle School and Seminole High School.  She was promoted to Principal of Crooms Academy of Information Technology and oversaw the development of the district’s only wall to wall magnet high school.  Dr. Collins served as principal at Crooms for thirteen years, then moved to Seminole High School where she served for six years.  She retired from the Florida Retirement System but continued as principal at Mount Dora Christian Academy.  She now leads Teague Middle School in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Dr. Collins has also worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida, Troy University, and Seminole State College.

Dr. Collins comes from a long line of educators.  Her great grandmother, Nellie Marshall, though born into slavery, taught reading and writing to members of the Burnt Corn Alabama community, and sent four of her own children to college.   Dr. Collins’ grandfather, Johnnie Marshall, graduated Fisk University and was himself a teacher in the Burnt Corn community.  Dr. Collins’ mother graduated Talledega College, and served as a Biology and Chemistry teacher, while her father graduated Alabama State University, and worked as a social studies teacher.  Dr. Collins has a twin sister, Carole, who is a guidance counselor and previous English teacher.

Dr. Collins’ has been recognized as Florida Association of Secondary School Principals’ State “Principal of the Year”, State of Florida “High Performing Principal”, Principal of the Year, Seminole County Public Schools, Assistant Principal of the Year, Seminole County Public Schools.  She has also been awarded the State of Florida Principal’s Leadership Award, PTSA Lifetime Membership Award Incentive Graduate Fellowship Award, University of Central Florida – Masters Level and Doctoral Level, and recognized as a Danforth Scholar, University of Central Florida.

Dr. Collins has participated as a contributing member of Florida Department of Education Secondary School Improvement Committee, Florida Digital Instructional Materials Work Group, Florida’s Digital Instruction Commissioners Group, Chinese Bridge Delegation – Beijing China, Zhejiang, China, Chinese Dept. of Ed., International Society of Technology in Education, National Academy Foundation Leadership, National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools, and Leadership Seminole.

Connie is a member of Washington Shores Church of Christ and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.