The Okaloosa County School Board voted unanimously Monday night to name the new Ruckel Middle School cafetorium The Dr. Ginny Morgan Cafetorium, honoring the late principal who dedicated her career to education in the district.

• Dr. Virginia “Ginny” Henderson Morgan, 76, passed away on February 15, 2024. She served as principal of Ruckel Middle School and began her career there as a middle school math teacher in 1968. 

Board member Brett Hinely, who presented the proposal, said Morgan “embodies everything that you would want in a principal.” Hinely, who attended Ruckel along with his daughters, called the decision “a no brainer.”

Superintendent Marcus Chambers, who was hired by Morgan in 1998, praised her leadership and educational philosophy.

• “Dr. Morgan was a principal, but most importantly, she was an educator,” Chambers said. “Dr. Morgan is someone who I’ll just say, for me, taught me a whole lot and her biggest motto was, ‘What is best for students?’”

Principal Joe Jannazo, who brought the proposal forward, said Morgan “was small in stature, but she demanded nothing but respect.” He added that stories from school advisory council members and teachers consistently emphasized Morgan’s dedication to students.

“Everything goes back to what is in the best interest for our kids and the students,” Jannazo said. “I am humbled to follow in those footsteps in that role.”

Dr. David Morgan, Virginia Morgan’s husband of 56 years, thanked the board for the honor. He shared that his wife started teaching at Ruckel in 1968, later became the math supervisor, and helped lead the transition from junior high to middle school.

• “I know that Ginny would be humble and proud, so thank you so much,” David Morgan said.

According to the proposal approved by the School Advisory Council in May, Dr. Morgan introduced transformative programs including the International Baccalaureate and “Alternatives to Learning.” She emphasized what she called the “three A’s” – Academics, Arts, and Athletics – and established a teacher-led committee that developed a framework for student core values.

Under Morgan’s leadership, the cafeteria became “much more than a dining space” and served as “a hub for student life, learning, and community engagement,” according to the proposal. She implemented open seating and ensured the space was used for performances, science fairs, tutoring and after-school programs.

The proposal noted that Morgan’s influence created a school community where “families moving into the area specifically to be zoned for” Ruckel, and her “vision laid the foundation for Ruckel’s sustained excellence over the past three decades.”