The Okaloosa County School Board approved Gwen Morris as Principal of Eglin Elementary School, Laurie Feldman as Assistant Principal of Wright Elementary School, and Jennifer Stewart as Assistant Principal of Antioch Elementary School (not present), at the May 22, 2023, School Board meeting.
Gwen Morris - Principal of Eglin Elementary School
The United States Air Force brought Gwen Morris to Eglin Air Force Base, FL, 39 years ago. She grew up in a military family living in many places, including the east coast, the deep South, and a stop in Tripoli, Libya, Africa. She was introduced to Cherokee Elementary School when her oldest daughter started kindergarten. Gwen volunteered, substituted, and eventually was hired to teach third grade where she spent five years before moving to Edwins Elementary School, where she had attended school in third grade. Realizing she found a home at Edwins Elementary School, Morris stayed for the next 24 years serving as Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Most recently, she served as the Dean of Students at Shalimar Elementary School.
Morris was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Education, a Master of Education in Reading, and a Specialist in Education from the University of West Florida. She has two daughters and sons-in-law, Melinda and Robby Baker, and Martha and Matt Paris, as well as three grandchildren, Kinley Anderson, Brody Baker, and Wyatt Paris. Morris is looking forward to serving the Eglin community once again.
Laurie Feldman - Assistant Principal II (10 Month) of Wright Elementary School
Laurie Feldman is an educator with 20 years of experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Stockton University in 1995, a master’s in teaching with a focus on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Marygrove College in 2011, and her master’s in educational leadership from the University of West Florida in 2018. Laurie taught for ten years in New Jersey with most of that time spent as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) inclusion teacher for elementary grades. She served as a grade-level chair and curriculum writer for the District.
Laurie began her career in Okaloosa County in 2013 as a Title 1 math teacher at Elliott Point Elementary School. After five years, she went back into the classroom as a fourth-grade math and science teacher. During her time at Elliott Point Elementary School, she served as Title 1 contact and grade-level chair. This past year she served as the Dean of Students at Wright Elementary School.
Laurie is the proud mother of two boys, Jacob and David, and is excited to continue working with the faculty and staff at Wright Elementary School. They are dedicated and passionate about their students. Laurie looks forward to serving the faculty, staff, students, and families as the Assistant Principal at Wright Elementary School.
Jennifer Stewart - Assistant Principal II (10 Month) of Antioch Elementary School – not present at the School Board meeting.