The Okaloosa County School Board approved Dawn Johnson as the Principal of Mary Esther Elementary School and Dr. Nathaniel Chatman as the Principal of Lewis School at the January 8, 2024, School Board meeting.
Dawn Johnson Named Principal of Mary Esther Elementary School
Dawn Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from Fayetteville State University. A military move brought her family to Florida where she began her educational career in the Okaloosa County School District in 2009. She taught Kindergarten at Longwood Elementary School for five years before transferring to Florosa Elementary School where she taught kindergarten, first grade, third grade, and fifth grade. She was selected by her peers as Teacher of Year at both Longwood Elementary and Florosa Elementary. In 2017, she was recognized as a Top 3 finalist for Okaloosa County Teacher of the Year. She earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Florida in 2018 and has spent the past three years at Elliott Point Elementary as the Assistant Principal.
Ms. Johnson’s philosophy and belief is in a growth mindset. She recognizes that a growth mindset encourages and allows students and teachers to take risks, seek feedback, learn from their mistakes, become motivated to face challenges head-on, and put forth the effort to succeed. As Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” She is the mother of two children, Heather and Ryan, and also has one grandson, Rory. In her spare time, she likes to read, crochet, and spend time with her family. She is grateful for this opportunity and is excited to begin this new journey as Mary Esther Elementary School’s principal.
Dr. Nathaniel Chatman Named Principal of Lewis School
Dr. Nathaniel Chatman is a product of the Okaloosa County School District and an educator with over 19 years of experience. He holds degrees in Education and Educational Leadership from Florida State University, University of West Florida, Grand Canyon University, and Trident University International. He is happily married to Roslyn Chatman a Walton County educator, and he is the proud father of Layla and Noah Chatman.
After graduating from college, he began his teaching career with Leon County School where he taught elementary students. In 2009, he accepted a teaching position with the Madison County School District where he taught multiple subjects to middle school students and served on the district curriculum mapping team. In 2011, Dr. Chatman moved back to Okaloosa County and joined the Ruckel Middle School team where he served on the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), formally Response to Intervention (RTI), committee and helped to improve the Ruckel RAMS STARS (Strategies to Achieve Real Success) program.
Since leaving the classroom in 2013, Dr. Chatman has served as the Assistant Principal at Shoal River Middle and Bob Sikes Elementary Schools. He has spent the past 2 years as principal of Richbourg School and Fast-Track North.
Dr. Chatman is humble and excited to embark upon this new educational journey as Principal of Lewis School and looks forward to making new connections with students and working collaboratively with fellow administrators, faculty, and staff members at Lewis.