Dionte Perry Leads Palm Beach Maritime Secondary Campus

Principal Dionte Perry enters his second year leading Palm Beach Maritime Academy's Secondary Campus. He has been part of the PBMA community for three years.

Perry described PBMA with three words: flexible, safe, and growing. He cited the academy's extended before and after care, which runs until 6:30 p.m., and a school day structured to accommodate family schedules as examples of its flexibility. The academy emphasizes safety through its Active Alert system and Yondr phone-free classrooms. Growth is evident as students earn college credit before graduation.

A highlight for Perry last year was celebrating student achievements. He noted that events like Honor Roll certificate presentations and Shark of the Month announcements showcase this pride.

Perry said if he could teach a subject outside his administrative role, it would be life management skills. This aligns with PBMA's mission to prepare students for more than just academics, a philosophy seen in the school's Social-Emotional Learning lessons and character education.

Perry's favorite high school movie was "He Got Game." He also holds a certificate in graphic design, a creative skill that finds expression at PBMA through its Digital Media and Art classes.

Palm Beach Maritime Academy is a tuition-free public charter school serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade across two campuses in Palm Beach County, Florida. Founded by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum, PBMA offers rigorous academics, including Cambridge AICE coursework, STEAM programming, and dual enrollment with Palm Beach State College. The academy also focuses on safety, belonging, and individualized support, providing small class sizes, full-time licensed mental health counselors, county-wide transportation, and a college-preparatory education at no tuition cost.

Applications for the 2026-27 school year are currently open.