Meet the Administration Team

Ms. Vanessa Moon

School Principal

Vanessa Moon is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport. Prior to becoming the Assistant Principal at Gulf High School, Ms. Moon was a math teacher in both the City of Rochester and Pasco. In May 2018, Ms. Moon was proudly named Principal of Anclote High School. Her wishes for the students of Anclote are a world class high school experience and for students to graduate ready to move on to the next chapter of their lives. While at school, she enjoys daily interactions with the incredible staff and students. At home, Ms. Moon is the mother to Orca, her little Chihuahua rescue.  Her beautiful human daughter, Holly, who is the mother to her pride-and-joy twin grandbabies, Wesley and Robin. In her seldom free time, Ms. Moon enjoys reading, watching cooking shows, doing crafts and loves thrift shopping.
 

Mr. Yan Li-Wong

12th Grade Assistant Principal

Mr. Li-Wong is the 12th grade Assistant Principal at AHS. He started working for Pasco County Schools in 2012 as a substitute teacher and realized, teaching was a passion of his! Two short years later, he became a language teacher at a middle school, which opened up an opportunity to teach Mandarin Chinese at Seven Springs Middle School. Within the 8 year tenor at SSMS, Mr. Li-Wong was named Pasco County School’s Teacher of the Year for 2020! Still reaching for the stars, in 2023, Mr. Li-Wong joined Anclote High School as an assistant principal and this is what he has to say, “I loved teaching and I love being an assistant principal. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my students become successful in school, career and life.” 

Mr. James Smith

11th Grade Assistant Principal

Mr. Smith, an assistant principal at Anclote High School, holds a bachelor’s degree in history education with an emphasis in economics (7-12) from Lee University.  He also has a master’s degree from Saint Leo university in educational leadership.  He began his career in Pasco County at River Ridge Middle School teaching 7th grade Civics.  He also served in an administrative internship role at both Fivay High School and Bayonet Point Middle School.  His wife is also a Pasco educator.  Mr. Smith cares deeply about students, faculty, and staff.  His goal is to see all students experience success at Anclote High and walk across the graduation stage.  Currently he supervises Math, CTE, Athletics, and Facilities.  He is an avid outdoorsman, Packer fan, and loves spending time with family.  

Ms. Deanna Lipa

10th Grade Assistant Principal

Mrs. Lipa, an Assistant Principal at AHS was born and raised right here in Pasco County. She takes pride in her roots and where she came from and loves the fact that she gets to give back to the community that has given so much to her! Graduating from Hudson High School herself, she is celebrating her 15th year as an administrator of Pasco County Schools with a total of 25 years with the district. With a Bachelors degree in Exceptional Student Education from SPC and Masters Degree in Education from USF, Ms. Lipa understands what it takes to accomplish goals: hard work, dedication and grit. Reminiscing on just that, the hard work, dedication and grit she gave toward the most recent graduating class (c/o ’24), who currently holds the highest graduation rate at AHS thus far, Mrs. Lipa says, “I am excited to begin a new journey with the class of 2028 and see all that they will accomplish at AHS.” In her downtime, Mrs. Lipa enjoys spending time with her family, especially her three sons. She also loves the beach, enjoys reading, crafting and visiting Disney World!

Ms. Suzanne Stacey

9th Grade Assistant Principal

Ms. Stacey is an Assistant Principal and has served at Anclote High School for the past 2 years! Ms. Stacey didn’t start out in education – first she earned a BS degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida, followed by a Masters Degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. This gave her the opportunity to work in Food Science and was a Registered Dietitian for the county’s WIC Program. In 2006, she made a career change over to education where she became a middle school Science teacher at Paul R. Smith Middle School and found her passion in teaching. Ms. Stacey moved to Sunlake High School the following year and was there for 9 years. In 2016, she moved to Gulf High School where she would eventually become the Learning Design Coach to help coach teachers. Within this time frame, she was working on earning her Master’s in Education which lead her to become an Anclote Assistant Principal in 2022. Ms. Stacey says, “my main goal as an educator is to build relationships with students and staff that lead to a positive school culture with high student achievement.” Ms. Stacey is a big craft enthusiast and the owner of Camping Girl Designs Tumblers and More, where she creates custom tumblers, t-shirts, jewelry, pens and other gifts. She also loves to go camping, travel, read but her favorite time spent is with her husband and children.