About the Principal

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION:

Basic to each individual is the desire for learning.  Our purpose as educators is to facilitate and enhance the desire for learning by meeting the individual needs of students.  The function of educational administration is to ensure an optimal learning climate for students through efficient operations and supervision of instructional programs.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Principal, Elberta Elementary School, Baldwin County Schools,  Present- 1998
• Assistant  Principal, Elberta Elementary School, Baldwin County Schools, 1998-1992
• Assistant Principal, Gulf Shores School, Baldwin County Schools, 1992-1990
• Teacher, Gulf Shores School, Baldwin County Schools, 1990-1989
• Teacher, Flomaton School, Escambia County Schools, 1989-1985
• Teacher, Escambia Academy, Private School, 1984-1982

EDUCATION:

University of West Florida,  Pensacola, FL, Ed. Specialist Degree Educational Leadership

University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, Certification in Administration

University of North Alabama, Brewton, AL branch, Master's degree, Elementary Education

Troy State University, Bay Minette, AL branch, Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, AWARDS and HONORS:

Member of NAESP, CLAS, AAESP, and District VIII since 1990; served as membership, legislative chairperson and vice president; currently president-elect for District VIII

Served on several Baldwin County Public Schools committees, including Math, Science and Reading Textbook Adoption, Kindergarten Report Card Revision, Uniform Code (committee writing initial guidelines for Baldwin County Board of Education uniform policy), and Effective Schools Committee

Certified facilitator and chairperson for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Chair of three initial accreditation committees; presently facilitator for two schools undergoing SACS Renewal Process

In 2002, participated and graduated from Alabama Renaissance Technology Academy for School Leaders 

Since 1999, worked extensively with Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services (State Improvement Grant), as consultant for research-based strategies, such as Beginning Reading Model Program (BRM), Positive Behavior Interventions and Strategies (PBIS), and DIBELS assessment; conducted training for teachers, principals and supervisors from Florence to Gulf Shores and 35 counties in-between; more than 20 schools throughout the state of Alabama, and two from Mississippi, have visited the Elberta Elementary campus to model reading programs after program I established here

Presented on the local and national levels:  in 1990, presented at National Middle School Conference in Toronto, Canada, on topic "The Meat is in the Middle",  placing emphasis on middle school years and struggles teachers face motivating this aged student; in 1999, presented overview of PBIS program at National Association of the Exceptional Child in Montgomery; presented three times at Special Education Mega Conference in Mobile on BRM, DIBELS and PBIS; since 1998, presenting throughout the state on "Strategies for Struggling Readers" 

November 10, 2003, one of two people selected from state of Alabama to present at National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) conference in Louisville, Kentucky, topic " Using Data to Drive Your Curriculum" presented to directors from all 50 states

 'Omi' Zeanah with Graysen,   and Sullivan, beloved grandkids 

Reading coach Donna Schoen and Ms. Zeanah kick off "Driven to Read" 2009-10