Spring Hill Elementary principal Cari O’Rourke to retire in 2026

Spring Hill Elementary Principal Cari O’Rourke will retire July 31, setting off a leadership search at the Spring Hill campus as families prepare for the 2026-2027 school year. The Hernando County School District said it is reviewing candidates and wants the job filled before students return.

O’Rourke has served Hernando County schools for more than 31 years in teaching and administrative roles, a span that has made her a familiar face across multiple generations of Spring Hill families. In her retirement message, she said, “It has been a privilege and honor to work for this amazing organization that has truly been a second home and family to me.” She said she is retiring to spend more time with family.

The timing matters because school leadership often shapes how a campus communicates with parents, handles staffing and carries out district priorities during the summer planning period. With the next school year only about 40 days away from early July, the district has a short window to name a replacement and keep the transition steady before classrooms reopen.

Spring Hill Elementary’s school page says O’Rourke brings more than 30 years of educational experience, including 20 years in the classroom and 12 in administration. That background has anchored the school’s day-to-day leadership at a time when consistency can matter as much as any new program or initiative.

The campus sits at 6001 Mariner Boulevard in Spring Hill, Florida, and lists school hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. The district’s summer office schedule is Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving families a limited summer window to handle school business as the leadership change unfolds.

The district posted the retirement announcement June 29 at 4:18 p.m. No successor has been named. For parents at Spring Hill Elementary, the immediate question is not just who takes over, but whether the next principal will preserve the routines, expectations and school culture O’Rourke leaves behind while also setting priorities for the year ahead.