By Jack Kasting, Florida A&M University journalism student
mail@floridanewsline.com
At the end of this past school year, St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson met with Troy Kasting and informed him he was selected to serve as the new principal of Landrum Middle School.
Kasting has worked many years in the school district. As a teacher, he taught social studies, including Advanced Placement Psychology as well as Advanced Placement U.S. History. Kasting has years of administrative experience as well. He was St. Johns County School District school services coordinator, as well as assistant principal at Creekside High School and Pedro Menendez High School.
Prior to entering public education, Kasting served in the United States Air Force as an instructor, and later in the Tennessee Air National Guard. He says that taking on the role of instructor in the military paved the way for him to enter public education.
When asked what he will be focusing on this upcoming school year, Kasting said, “It will be mainly continuing the fine work that the previous principal Mr. Guy Harris began three years ago.”
Kasting has been friends with Harris for many years and said Landrum has been in good hands for the last three years. Kasting’s goal is to ensure the teachers can be as effective as possible and that the students have any option they wish to pursue as they transition to high school.
“Landrum is among the highest performing middle schools in the State of Florida,” he said. “The high level of instruction and care that the teachers demonstrate towards the students is exemplary. Landrum is definitely not a school that needs to be turned upside down.”
[Author’s Note: In full disclosure, Troy Kasting happens to be my dad and his new appointment is poignant for me because I spent my middle school years at Landrum. Many of the teachers that taught me are still teaching there to this day. One of the things as a Landrum Lion I still remember to this day was how supportive and caring the Landrum teachers were.]
Photo courtesy Troy Kasting
Former Landrum Middle School principal Guy Harris with new Landrum Middle School principal Troy Kasting.
