Sarasota County, FL, December 17, 2025 – Sarasota County Schools is pleased to announce that Mr. Ryan Shurley has been selected as the new Principal of North Port High School.
Mr. Shurley brings more than 15 years of experience as an educator and school leader within Sarasota County Schools, with a proven record of strengthening school culture, improving instructional outcomes, and supporting students and staff at every level. Most recently, he served as Assistant Principal of Curriculum at Venice High School, where he led strategic instructional initiatives, supervised advanced academic programs, and guided schoolwide improvement efforts that resulted in measurable gains in student achievement, acceleration, and graduation rates.
Throughout his leadership career, Mr. Shurley has held assistant principal roles at Venice High School, Venice Middle School, and North Port High School, where he is already a familiar and trusted presence within the Bobcat community. His work has focused on building strong systems of support for students, strengthening instructional practice through professional learning, expanding access to rigorous coursework, and fostering a safe, inclusive, and positive school environment.
Mr. Shurley is known for his collaborative leadership style, data-informed decision making, and deep commitment to student success. He has extensive experience leading many initiatives while partnering closely with families, staff, and community stakeholders to celebrate student achievement.
He holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Florida. Mr. Shurley maintains Florida certification in Educational Leadership and School Principal, and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
We are excited to welcome Mr. Shurley into this role and look forward to his leadership at North Port High School as he works alongside students, staff, and families to continue building a culture of excellence, belonging, and high expectations for all.
