Tampa, FL -- Lake County School District Superintendent Diane Kornegay was selected as Florida’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS). Kornegay was formally recognized today in Tampa during the Florida School Boards Association and FADSS joint conference. She is the 39th superintendent and the 10th woman to receive this honor since the inception of the awards program in 1988, and currently holds the distinction of being the longest serving appointed superintendent in Florida.
Kornegay is a seasoned education administrator with more than 35 years of educational experience. Prior to becoming Lake County Schools (LCS) superintendent, she served in several leadership roles in Clay County Schools including Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Director of School Improvement and Teaching Training, as well as school principal. Kornegay holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master’s of Education from the University of North Florida.
Under Kornegay’s leadership, the district has made significant strides in academic performance and program offerings. The district achieved an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education in 2025, the first since 2008, with notable increases in proficiency including 15 percentage points in Algebra 1 and 7 percentage points in English Language Arts for grades 9 and 10. When the district noticed declining attendance in their high schools due to the need for students to work part-time or even full-time to support themselves or contribute to their families, LCS developed a high school night school option and a flexible day high school program in partnership with Lake Technical College. This flexible pathway to graduation resulted in an overall graduation rate increase from 88% to 93% in three years, and graduation rates have remained at or above 90% for the past four years.
Additional accolades for Lake County Schools include the expansion of access to high-demand Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs across all middle and high schools; all high schools now provide accelerated diploma tracks, including AICE, Advanced Placement, and IB programs; and LCS students passed nearly 5,000 industry certification exams in 2024.
“Those who answer the call to serve as a public school superintendent do so not for recognition, but for the profound opportunity to make a positive difference in children’s lives, and Diane Kornegay exemplifies this passion and commitment each and every day,” FADSS CEO Senator Bill Montford said. “I have been impressed with Diane since her appointment as LCS superintendent in December 2016, and it’s no surprise she is now the longest-serving appointed superintendent in Florida. Diane is a determined and unwavering advocate for public education and student success. Her sustained tenure speaks to her remarkable ability to bring people together, forge trust, and lead the kind of meaningful change that delivers exceptional outcomes for students.”
In addition to her role as LCS Superintendent, Kornegay remains deeply engaged in numerous community and state organizations which have earned her many awards and recognition. In 2021, Kornegay was recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association for Career and Technical Education, an award that honors superintendents for their dedication to advancing CTE and preparing students for the workforce. She was awarded the Community Service Award from the Lake County Chamber Alliance of Education, the Star Superintendent Award from the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, and the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce Education Award to name a few. Kornegay has served on the FADSS Board of Directors since 2019 and currently serves as Vice President.
“Diane leads with compassion and conviction, driven by a work ethic grounded in
servant leadership and a commitment to educational excellence,” FADSS President and Miami-Dade County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jose Dotres said. “Her philosophy that the work of a superintendent and public educators ‘has to be done as if there is no tomorrow because we only get one chance with these kids’, clearly exemplifies her dedication to public education. She is a true servant leader committed to educational excellence, and she is very deserving of this award.”
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been selected as Florida’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year,” Kornegay said. “It is a privilege to be chosen among a class of outstanding and dedicated superintendents in this state, who are fiercely committed to ensuring academic excellence and opportunities for all students. This recognition is truly an honor personally, but more so, it reflects the outstanding achievements and tireless work of everyone who makes up Lake County Public Schools.”
Kornegay is widely respected throughout Florida, not only by the superintendents of Florida, but by all who know her and have had the opportunity to work with her. Undoubtedly this high level of respect is a clear reflection of her exemplary work ethic, and a true passion and dedication to always make decisions that are in the best interests of students,” adds Montford.
The process for selecting Florida’s Superintendent of the Year was established by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), a national organization of school superintendents and other educational leaders. Kornegay will represent all Florida superintendents at the AASA 2026 National Education Conference February 12 – 14, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee where she will be recognized and honored for her public education service in Florida. The National Superintendent of the Year® Program pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead our nation’s public schools.