New Seabreeze High School principal welcomed by community

Earl Johnson Jr. is a Seabreeze High School alum himself.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 3:00 p.m. July 23, 2021

Dan and Lynda Hucks, who purchased the painting, along with Seabreeze High School Principal Earl Johnson Jr. and Thays França. Courtesy of Carl Persis

Volusia County School Board Member Carl Persis, Anthony Campanella, Seabreeze High School Principal Earl Johnson Jr. and Tucker Harris. Courtesy of Carl Persis

Seabreeze High School Principal Earl Johnson Jr. and Lowell and Nancy Lohman. Courtesy of Carl Persis

Seabreeze High School Principal Earl Johnson Jr. shows off Thays França's painting. Courtesy of Carl Persis

Seabreeze High School Principal Earl Johnson Jr. and artistThays França. Courtesy of Carl Persis

Ormond Beach Observer
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Seabreeze High School's new principal was welcomed in style on Thursday, July 22, by the Seabreeze Alumni Class of 1966 with a reception at the Grind Gastropub.

Hosted by Volusia County School District 4 Board Member Carl Persis, Earl Johnson Jr. was additionally surprised by the Ormond and Daytona Beach mayors in attendance. Johnson is a Seabreeze alum himself, and held his first teaching job there as a math teacher, according to the district. Johnson also served as the school's assistant principal in the past. He comes back to Volusia County following his position as executive director of student and community engagement and operations for Flagler County Schools.

He replaced Joe Rawlings, who retired at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

Ormond Beach artist Thays França created a painting live at the event, and proceeds benefited the Seabreeze band and orchestra programs.

"This is just my way and the Class of 66's way of welcoming Earl back to Seabreeze and the Volusia County School District," Persis said.