Lake Wales Native Chosen as New Bok South Academy Principal

Lake Wales Charter School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Rodolfich has announced the appointment of April Barnhardt to become the new principal of Edward Bok Academy South. The appointment was confirmed by the Charter School board.

Barnhardt has for the past two years served as the assistant principal of Hillcrest Elementary School, one of several local schools she attended as a child. She will take over the role from Dr. Julio Acevedo, who has served on a temporary basis the sudden departure of former principal Damian Rosado in August.

According to a release from Lake Wales Charter Schools, after attending Polk State College on an athletic scholarship Barnhardt earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Education in Curriculum at the University of Mississippi, where she played varsity softball. She also earned an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership at Nove Southeastern University while serving as assistant principal at Janie Howard Wilson.

She has previously taught in classrooms at both Lake Wales High School and Janie Howard Wilson Elementary during her 24-year career in education.

A Lake Wales native, Barnhardt was a student athlete and played softball and volleyball for Lake Wales Highlander teams, and was named the high school's Female Athlete of the Year in 1994.