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E-mail Alexis Tibbetts
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Dr. Alexis Tibbetts was elected Superintendent on November 7, 2006. Since that time, she and her administration have focused on many goals:
- ensuring that all Okaloosa students have the opportunity to maximize their academic potential and closing the gap in academic performance;
- improving math and science education through new initiatives in grades 3-8;
- reducing expenses and balancing a decreasing budget.
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In order to tap the potential of minority and economically disadvantaged children, two “No Child Left Behind” specialists have been charged with finding innovative ways to boost academic achievement and motivation among these students, preparing them for the rigors of college and helping them acquire the skills necessary for successful entry into the workforce. Under Dr. Tibbetts’ leadership, a bold new summer program was inaugurated to help ready these students for the challenges of taking the advanced academic courses they will need for success beyond high school. As a result of this and other initiatives, minority enrollment in advanced and honors courses has doubled in the past three years.
Because teacher training has a direct and significant impact on student achievement, Dr. Tibbetts has placed great emphasis on ensuring that teachers at all grade levels have opportunities for content-specific professional development.
Dr. Tibbetts is keenly aware of the importance of math and science education for the future of our country. In an effort to increase interest and competency in math and science, these subjects are becoming more inviting and relevant to the students through many initiatives, including partnerships with the USAF Armament Museum and the Emerald Coast Science Center, and fostering the Robotics Urban Challenge, Jacobs Engineering IDEA competition and National Defense Industry Association teacher mini-grants.
Dr. Tibbetts is strongly committed to containing costs and protecting taxpayer investment in the schools. As the number of school age children in the south part of the county continues to drop, state funding for these schools has decreased. With bold initiative, Dr. Tibbetts tackled the problem of under-enrollment and under-funding through a realignment of schools which has proven to be cost effective and good for the students. She slashed the district’s administrative overhead costs by $2 million and negotiated reductions in the cost of technology, School Resource Officers and school health contracts. Under her leadership, 92% of state FEFP (Florida Education Finance Program) funding goes straight to the schools.
Background
Dr. Alexis Tibbetts has served in the field of education for over 35 years. She has taught science at all levels: elementary, middle and high school and has experience as a guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal.
She is a graduate of Crestview High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and Psychology at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL, her Master of Science in Counseling and Human Development at Troy State University and her Education Specialist Degree and Doctorate in Curriculum and Educational Administration at the University of West Florida.
Under her leadership, Okaloosa County schools have been rated first, second or third in Florida in reading, math, science and writing at all grade levels tested on the FCAT. Okaloosa County has the highest percentage of "A" schools in the State of Florida. During her administration, every school in the district has undergone major renovations or new construction. More minority students, students in poverty, ESE and ELL students are now enrolled in honors, AP or IB courses than ever before.
Dr. Tibbetts' signature projects include developing the first Career Technical Academy in the district, initiating the Advanced Placement Institute at Fort Walton Beach High School, introducing the Odyssey of the Mind competition to our district, and the foundation of the Emerald Coast Science Center.
Alexis has been honored as the Florida Gifted Teacher of the Year and as Florida’s Region 1 Assistant Principal of the Year. She was named Emerald Coast magazine’s “Educator of the Year” in 2005. She has presented at numerous local and national educational conferences, including the National Drop-Out Prevention Conference, the National Career Academy Conference, the National School-to-Work Conference and the Florida Education Technology Conference. She has published numerous articles about education and was recently included in the Okaloosa County Women’s Wall of Fame. She was named "2009 District Innovation Leader of the Year" and Eglin AFB "Ambassador of the Year."
She is a member of many local civic, community, charitable, and professional organizations including: Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Delta Kappa, Shalimar United Methodist Church, Junior League of Fort Walton Beach, Boy Scouts of America Board and Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club.
Alexis is a member of the Boards of Directors of United Way, Children in Crisis and Workforce Development. She is a member of all local Chambers of Commerce.
She has a very broad experience in education, having worked as a science teacher at Meigs Junior High School, the Okaloosa Learning Center, and Wagner High School, Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines. She worked as a guidance counselor at Randolph High School, Randolph AFB, San Antonio, Texas; as Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Fort Walton Beach High School; as Principal of Destin Middle School at Regatta Bay and as Principal of Fort Walton Beach High School.
Alexis is married to Colonel Daniel M. “Buff” Tibbetts, USAF (Ret). Buff is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Southern California. He is employed by Sverdrup Technology, a Jacobs Engineering Company. They have two daughters. Natalie completed her pediatric residency at the University of Alabama Birmingham Children’s Hospital. She graduated from the University of Florida and the University of Miami School of Medicine. Danielle graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School in 2008.
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