There’s a lot of excitement building around Ovation Elementary, the new school set to open in Horizon West this August, and now the community has a chance to start getting to know the person leading it all: Principal Patty Harrelson. A longtime OCPS principal and West Orange resident, Harrelson has spent years in school leadership and is now stepping into a role that feels especially meaningful as she prepares to open a brand-new school from the ground up.
A Dream Come True
For Harrelson, this is more than a new assignment. It’s the realization of a longtime professional dream. While she has helped open a new building addition in the past, this is her first opportunity to help launch an entirely new campus and shape its culture from day one.
That part matters, because as any parent knows, a school is so much more than walls and classrooms. The heart of a school comes from its leadership, its staff, and the feeling families get when they walk onto campus. Harrelson has made it clear that she wants Ovation Elementary to be a place where students feel welcomed, supported, challenged, and excited to learn. Her vision centers around excellence, inclusion, and creating a school community where every child feels seen.
Ovation Elementary is being built on Hartzog Road as a relief school for, helping meet the needs of Horizon West’s continued growth. The new campus will serve local families in one of the fastest-growing parts of Orange County and is designed to support hundreds of students with modern learning spaces, arts areas, play spaces, and family-friendly campus features.
Meet Your Principal on April 10th!
As the school gets closer to opening, families won’t have to wait until the first day of school to meet Principal Harrelson. She’ll be out in the community at 2nd Fridays at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center on April 10, giving local families a fun and easy chance to say hello, make that first connection, and help welcome her to Horizon West.
We love moments like this because they remind us that strong communities are built through connection. Before the carpools, meet-the-teacher nights, school events, and first report cards, there’s this simple beginning: neighbors meeting neighbors and families getting to know the people helping shape the future of Horizon West.
Ovation Elementary is already an exciting addition to the community, and Principal Patty Harrelson seems ready to lead it with heart, experience, and a genuine passion for students and families. Horizon West, you’re going to want to keep an eye on this one.
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