Charlie Marello, principal of Niceville High School, has been appointed Northwest Florida Regional Director for the Florida Association of Secondary School Principals (FASSP), Okaloosa County School District officials announced Monday.

• Marello, who has served as Niceville High’s principal for nine years, brings 15 years of experience as a secondary school principal to the leadership position with FASSP, a division of the Florida Association of School Administrators.

“After 15 years as a secondary school principal, I’ve been fortunate to gain lots of experience trying to effectively lead, manage, and survive all different types of situations,” Marello said. “If I can be of service to the FASSP by sharing or helping others through the knowledge I’ve gained, the lessons I’ve learned, or the mistakes I’ve made, I’m more than happy to do so.”

Superintendent Marcus Chambers praised Marello’s appointment, calling him “an outstanding leader who has made a tremendous impact on students, teachers, and the community.”

• “His dedication to excellence in education and his ability to mentor and support fellow administrators make him the perfect choice for this role,” Chambers said. “We are incredibly proud to have him representing Northwest Florida at the state level.”

Before leading Niceville High School, Marello served as principal at Destin Middle School for three years and at Emerald Coast Middle School in Walton County for three years.

• FASSP supports and empowers secondary school leaders across Florida. Its parent organization, FASA, was founded in 1977 with a mission to enhance education quality in Florida by providing administrators with tools and resources to foster student success.

In his new role, Marello will collaborate with school leaders across Northwest Florida, advocate for secondary education, and contribute to the professional development of fellow administrators.