bowellm@okaloosaschools.com

Melissa Bowell has deep roots in Okaloosa County Schools as her mother retired from teaching after 35 years; her sister, Heather, is a Mental Health Counselor in the District, and her husband, David, is a School Resource Officer in Okaloosa County. She began her educational career 20 years ago at her alma mater, Fort Walton Beach High School, teaching English Language Arts and, eventually, Advanced Placement Literature. In 2015, Ms. Bowell became a Secondary Curriculum Specialist for the District, where she helped deliver professional development to secondary English Language Arts and Social Studies teachers across the District. Most recently, she has been the Assistant Principal at Choctawhatchee High School, where she has truly loved becoming a Big Green Indian.

Ms. Bowell graduated from Florida State University with her bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and the University of West Florida with her master’s degree in Curriculum and her Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership.

She truly believes in the transformative power of education and is dedicated to the students, parents, faculty, and staff at Meigs.

Rachel.Jones@okaloosaschools.com

Mrs. Rachel Jones is a product of the Okaloosa County School System. Having grown up in Destin, Florida, she attended Destin Elementary, Bruner Middle School, Destin Middle School, and graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School. Upon graduation, Mrs. Jones earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English from the University of Alabama…Roll Tide!! While her husband was in Air Force Pilot Training, Mrs. Jones had the opportunity to teach high school English of all levels in Birmingham, Alabama, Clovis, New Mexico, and at Fort Walton Beach High School where she has served most recently as a Teacher on Special Assignment in the Guidance Office responsible for all standardized testing, as well as other counseling and administrative duties. Mrs. Jones was the cheerleading sponsor at FWBHS where she led the team to multiple State and National Championships. She has always had a passion for helping students merge the academic and athletic aspects of their role in representing the school they attend to the community.

Mrs. Jones is married to her high school sweetheart, Bryan, who is also a product of the Okaloosa County School System and serves as an Active-Duty Pilot. They have two beautiful daughters-Spencer who is 5 and Parker who is 3-and they own a CrossFit Gym in Destin.

Mrs. Jones is excited to have an opportunity to continue to serve a school district that she is passionate about through the Assistant Principal position at Meigs Middle School. She is ready to lead the students and faculty at Meigs to be the greatest they can be! 

Jeffrey.Strumeyer@okaloosaschools.com

Mr. Strumeyer was born in Tucson, Arizona and moved around quite a bit being part of a military family and ended up here in the Panhandle of Florida when he was a freshman in high school. Later, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of West Florida.

Jeff has been in education for the past twenty-four years serving in Santa Rosa county for nineteen of those years in many different compacities, such as, reading intervention, CTE Coding, and 5th-8th grade teacher. He received a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University prepping himself to move into administration, which is a passion for him.

In 2018, Strumeyer came over to Okaloosa County to pursue leadership. Working at Pryor Middle as an intensive reading teacher then moving to Bruner as a social studies teacher and an aspiring administrator. Being able to begin learning administration Jeff moved to Walker Elementary, working briefly at Richburg, and Baker, all as a dean of students. It is these many experiences that he brings to any leadership role. Strumeyer has just finished his first year as an assistant principal at Bluewater Elementary.

Jeff and his wife Angie are proud parents of three children, Zach, Sammy, and Chandler as well as two grandchildren Orion and Sawyer. Zach is raising is two boys while running an online business, Sammy is going into his senior year at UCF studying Environmental Science, and Chandler, a recent high school graduate, is planning on going to PSC in the fall. Jeff is super excited about moving to Meigs Middle School where feels like he will continue to grow into and effective principal one day.

Tyler.Tisza@okaloosaschools.com

Coming soon...