Polk County Schools announces new administrators for 2015-16

The Polk County School District has announced 20 new principal and assistant principal assignments for the 2015-'16 school year.

Classes begin Aug. 24 in Polk County. Here is a list of the appointments:

• Rodney Bellamy, principal of Donald E. Woods Opportunity Center. Bellamy previously served as assistant principal of Dream Lake Elementary School in Apopka and has been an educator for 17 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Central Florida, a master’s degree in emotional handicaps from Nova Southeastern University and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern.
  
• Tye Bruno, principal of Southwest Middle School. Bruno previously served as assistant principal of Tenoroc High School and has been an educator for 14 years. He has a bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College, a master’s in education from National Louis University, and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Walden University.
• Tangela Durham, Assistant Principal of Griffin Elementary School. Durham was the acting assistant principal of Griffin Elementary School and has been an educator for 22 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Troy State University and a master’s in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of South Florida.
  
• Ryan Foster, Principal of R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School. Foster previously served as assistant principal of Eastside Elementary School and has been an educator for 10 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of South Florida. 
• Glenn Gardner, assistant principal of Lakeland Highlands Middle School. Gardner previously served as dean of Westwood Middle School and has been an educator for 10 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts from the State University of New York and a master’s in educational leadership from Southeastern University.
  
• Daraford Jones, principal of Gause Academy of Leadership. Jones previously served as assistant principal of Tenoroc High School and has been an educator for 16 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and a master’s in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
  
• Nikki Jones, assistant principal of Carlton Palmore Elementary School. Jones previously served as acting assistant principal of Auburndale Central Elementary School and has been an educator for 10 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wyoming, a master’s in education from St. Leo University and a specialist degree in curriculum, instruction, management and administration from Nova Southeastern University.
  
• Deborah Kindel, principal of Lake Region High School. Kindel previously served as assistant principal of Lake Region High School and has been an educator for 25 years. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, a master’s in mathematics education and a doctorate in educational leadership from USF.
  
• Rebecca Kowallek, assistant principal of Lake Marion Creek Middle School. Kowallek was the acting assistant principal at Lake Marion Creek Middle School and has been an educator for 11 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Florida Southern College and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
  
• Adam Lane, principal of Haines City High School. Lane previously served as the International Baccalaureate coordinator and assistant principal of Largo High School, and has been an educator for 17 years. He has a bachelor’s degree from Baldwin-Wallace College, a master’s from Eastern Illinois University, and an educational leadership certification from the University of South Florida.
  
• Nikeshia Leatherwood, principal of Alta Vista Elementary School. Leatherwood previously served as assistant principal of Horizons Elementary School and has been an educator for 13 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Rust College, a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of Mississippi, and a specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi.
  
• Nadia Lewis, principal of Sandhill Elementary School. Lewis previously served as assistant principal of Kathleen Middle School and has been an educator for 10 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Warner Southern College and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
  
• Connie Loutzenhiser, principal of Eagle Lake Elementary School. Loutzenhiser was the acting principal of Eagle Lake Elementary School and has been an educator for 22 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Central Florida and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
  
• Elizabeth Munoz, assistant principal of John Snively Elementary School. Munoz previously served as a reading interventionist at Eagle Lake Elementary School and has been an educator for 21 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southeastern College and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of South Florida.
  
• Shelly Reinacher, assistant principal of Alturas Elementary School. Reinacher previously served as a school-based coach and has been an educator for 23 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Mount Union and a master’s in educational leadership from the American College of Education.
  
• Wallace Selph, principal of R. Clem Churchwell Elementary School. Selph previously worked for the Florida Department of Education as a school improvement specialist, and has been an educator for 10 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida, a master’s in curriculum, instruction and technology from Grand Canyon University, and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Liberty University.
  
• Deneece Sharp, director of leadership development. Sharp previously served as principal of Alta Vista Elementary School and has been an educator for 24 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida and a master’s in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
  
• Brad Tarver, principal of Daniel Jenkins Academy of Technology. Tarver previously served as assistant principal of Shelley S. Boone Middle School and has been an educator for 12 years. He has a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, a master’s from Webster University and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Argosy University.
  
• Erin Uria, assistant principal of Highlands Grove Elementary School. Uria previously served as curriculum specialist at the Office of Accountability and has been an educator for eight years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Warner University and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of North Florida.
  
• Timothy Warren, principal of Dr. N.E. Roberts Elementary School. Warren previously served as principal of Arlington Elementary School in Jacksonville and has been an educator for 20 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Florida A&M University, and a master’s in educational leadership from FAMU.