Laura Touchstone Named Escambia County Director of High School Education

CANTONMENT, Fl. NewsWK — Escambia County Public Schools will see a major leadership transition ahead of the 2026–2027 school year. The Escambia County School Board has unanimously approved the appointment of longtime educator and Tate High School Principal Laura Touchstone as the district’s new Director of High School Education.

Touchstone steps into the central administration role following the retirement of veteran director Lesa Morgan.

A Decorated Legacy in School Turnarounds

Touchstone brings a highly decorated, 26-year career in public education to the district director level. She previously served as an instructional leader, assistant principal, and principal at multiple area institutions, including leading Pine Forest High School as principal beginning in 2015 before taking the helm at Tate High School.

Throughout her career, she has been recognized statewide for specialized educational leadership, earning:

• Two-time Teacher of the Year honors early in her career.
• Reading Coach of the Year recognition.
• The prestigious Florida TaxWatch Principal Leadership Award for transforming high-risk public schools.
• The official designation as a Florida Turnaround Principal by the Florida Department of Education for closing student achievement gaps.

“Serving as principal has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life, and I will always be proud to be part of the Tate family,” Touchstone said in a statement following the school board’s vote, expressing her gratitude to the students, faculty, and families at Tate High School.

Looking forward to her countywide responsibilities, she added, “Education changes lives. I look forward to supporting our principals and teachers as we continue the important work of creating opportunities for students and preparing them for the futures they deserve across all of our high schools.”

Tate High Principal Role Open for 2026–2027

Touchstone’s promotion to district leadership leaves a high-profile vacancy at the top of Tate High School’s administration.

The position of principal at Tate remains officially open. However, Escambia County Public Schools administrative teams indicate they expect the critical role to be filled before students and staff return for the start of the 2026–2027 school year session.

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