For the first time in Bay District Schools’ history, both the Principal of the Year and the Assistant Principal of the Year come from the same school, and it’s happening right here on Panama City Beach at Patronis Elementary. This remarkable achievement speaks volumes about the culture, leadership, and heart that define this beloved community school.
Principal Brooke Loyed, named the 2025–2026 BDS Principal of the Year, is the kind of leader whose influence is felt long before it’s seen. She leads with warmth, connection, and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for children. Every day, she is in the classrooms, beside teachers, celebrating small victories and building a sense of family that radiates throughout the campus. Her staff describes her as someone who “leads with her heart first,” and it shows. Patronis is a place where students feel safe, teachers feel valued, and families feel truly welcomed.
Brooke’s belief in the power of community has transformed the school into a hub of support and partnership. Local businesses, churches, and organizations know they have an open door at Patronis, and her genuine gratitude and generosity inspire others to join her mission. She invests in her teachers as leaders, offering mentorship rooted in honesty and compassion. Under her steady guidance, Patronis has thrived not just academically, but emotionally.
Right beside her stands Katie McKenzie, the 2025–2026 BDS Assistant Principal of the Year, a leader known for her tireless energy, quick problem-solving, and deep love for the school she once served as a fifth-grade teacher. Katie is described as someone with “no job description,” because she simply does whatever needs to be done. From counseling students to helping teachers plan lessons to calling parents when support is needed, Katie moves with urgency, wisdom, and heart.
Her colleagues say she “does not miss a beat,” and they trust her because she leads by example: jumping in, getting her hands dirty, and offering grace at every turn. A devoted mom, community volunteer, and former teacher, Katie brings a grounded, joyful spirit to Patronis that lifts everyone around her.
Together, Brooke Loyed and Katie McKenzie form a leadership team that blends compassion with high expectations, two women who believe deeply in children, in teachers, and in the power of a strong school family. Patronis Elementary isn’t just making history this year. It’s showing what happens when extraordinary leaders serve with purpose, humility, and heart.
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