The Okaloosa County School Board approved Elease McDonald as the Specialist of Curriculum and Instruction, Mandy Lopez as the Principal of Walker Elementary School, Joan Pickard as the Assistant Principal of Longwood Elementary School, and Gary Massey as the Assistant Principal of Destin Middle School, at the June 26, 2023, School Board meeting.
Elease McDonald as the Specialist of Curriculum and Instruction
Always appreciative of the extraordinary education she received from the Okaloosa County School District, Elease McDonald desires to pay it forward by supporting teachers in reaching their fullest potential capitalizing on curriculum, and engaging students for growth. McDonald received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northwest Florida State College and obtained her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Florida. Through teaching reading and Language Arts in both elementary and secondary schools in the district, she has become familiar with Okaloosa County School District’s (OCSD) policies, procedures, and preferred practices. From students decoding the word c-a-t in kindergarten to synthesizing Shakespeare at the end of middle school, McDonald has guided students to reading readiness and deep analysis of traditional literature.
The Curriculum Department at OCSD invited Elease to serve on committees to develop materials used in district-wide reading and writing instruction. As the English Language Arts (ELA) Department Chair at Pryor Middle School, she has mentored new English teachers through their first years in education, led school-based professional learning sessions, and opened her classroom door to welcome novice educators asking to see a model of interactive whole-group instruction. She humbly accepts this position with the promise to treat teachers as she treated her students. With grace, compassion, and support.
Mandy Lopez as the Principal of Walker Elementary School
A native of North Carolina, Mandy Lopez completed a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from East Carolina University in 2009. She started her career in education as a fourth-grade teacher in Fayetteville, where she stayed for 4 years before moving to Florida. Lopez began her work with the OCSD in 2013 at Edge Elementary School as a third and fourth-grade teacher. During her time at Edge Elementary School, she earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Florida. She transitioned from the classroom and served Walker Elementary School as an ELA Instructional Coach from 2017 to 2019. She has also served as Walker’s Assistant Principal from 2019 to the present, earning the Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year award this school year.
Lopez is mom to Lilly and Victor and enjoys precious time with her children. She is excited to lead Walker Elementary School at this time of transition. She is looking forward to accepting this role and working alongside the most capable, creative, and dynamic faculty and staff in the district.
Joan Pickard and Gary Massey were not in attendance.
Congratulations!