Michael Baumaister Jr. is a proud product of Pasco County Schools, graduating from Ridgewood High School in 1987. He earned his AA degree from Pasco Hernando Community College and a Bachelor's degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida in 1994, while working at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. In 1996, Michael began his career at the Tampa Police Department, where he rose to the rank of Major before retiring in 2020.

Michael joined the Pasco County School District in July 2020 as the Chief of Safety and Emergency Operations while maintaining his law enforcement credentials with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. His wife, an Instructional Coach at River Ridge Middle School, humorously warned him to be on his best behavior when accepting the position and to avoid embarrassing her.

Michael quickly evaluated and enhanced the Safety program established in 2018, improving processes and organizational structure. He developed numerous procedures and safety plans, fostering relationships with school administrators. His motto, "Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we cannot turn schools into prisons," guided his efforts. Within his first 90 days, he visited every school, creating support documents and open communication lines to ensure the safest environment possible. Since his hiring, there have been significant improvements in infrastructure, safety policies, and oversight.

Michael is most proud of his family and their dedication to education. His wife holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida and a Master's degree from St. Leo University and has been with the school district for over 29 years. Their son graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Computer Engineering, while their daughter is in her final semester at Florida State University, pursuing a degree in Psychology. Michael often jokes that no matter which Florida team you support, his household has it covered. He and his wife Chrissy stay busy with their two Australian Shepherds, Max and Ruby.

Michael loves working for Pasco County Schools and attributes his successes to the passion of its employees, especially the administrators. He praises his Safety and Security team and supervisory staff for their exceptional credentials and contributions. Michael is humbled and honored to be nominated and selected for this award among many worthy nominees.