Liza Jackson Preparatory School

LJPS is governed by Liza Jackson Preparatory School, Inc. a not-for-profit corporation organized in the State of Florida. Liza Jackson Preparatory School, Inc. is an Internal Revenue Service approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Board meetings are publicized at least a week in advance and are open to the public.  The school operates under the Corporate Board in all matters pertaining to the operation and management of the school.

The Governing Board and Corporate Officers of Liza Jackson are:

The primary responsibilities of the governing board are to:

 

Joan (Jo) Henderson, Board Chairman

Ms. Henderson is one of the original founders of LJPS.  Her experience as an educator ranges from the classroom to the courtroom.  Here are some of her career highlights:

Ms. Henderson has a passionate commitment to students of all ability levels and to LJPS.  She takes a personal interest in ensuring that Liza Jackson is a state-of-the-art, child-centered school.

Email Ms. Henderson

Annette Lee, Board Member

Ms. Lee is another of the original founders of LJPS.  She was a teacher of elementary and exceptional education students before entering administration in the Okaloosa School District, where she served as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, the Director of Student Services, and principal.  More recently she serves as Vice President for Human Resources and School Administration for the Radar Group, which provides support to charter schools throughout the U.S.

Email Ms. Lee

Marianne McCain, Ph.D., Board Member

Dr. McCain is a practicing psychologist serving patients in the greater Fort Walton Beach Area.  She works with families, children, and adolescents. 

Dr. McCain brings her expert knowledge of child development and disorders to our board and serves as a valuable resource to our staff and administration.  She willingly gives her time to provide training to our teachers on topics such as learning disabilities, processing deficits, and other special issues regarding students.

Email Dr. McCain

Dr. Virginia Morgan Ed., Board Member

Dr. Morgan brings a long, distinguished resume' to the LJPS Board.  She has served as a math teacher, Okaloosa District Program Director for Mathematics, oversaw the transition from junior high school structure to middle school for Okaloosa County schools, and served as principal of Ruckel Middle School in Niceville.  During her tenure as principal Ruckel was recognized as the 9th authorized International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in the United States and as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.  Since her retirement from Ruckel Dr. Morgan continues to travel and consult in addition to serving on our Board.

Email Dr. Morgan

Nicola T (Terri) Roberts, CEO

Another of the founders of Liza Jackson, Terri Roberts continues to have an active role in the school as the Chief Executive Officer.  Among the many accomplishments she can cite are Chief Financial Officer for the School District of Okaloosa County for six years, Chief Operating Officer of the Rader Group, Inc, which provides management services to charter schools across the nation, and consultant, trainer, and workshop leader.  She sits on several state and regional committees and is respected throughout the state for her knowledge and expertise.

Email Ms. Roberts

Mary Gunter, Principal

Mary Gunter has been a mentor and role model for many of today's educators and administrators in Okaloosa County.  Included among her many positions are teacher (grades 1-12), Program Director for Elementary Education (Okaloosa District Schools), Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Curriculum and Instruction (Okaloosa District Schools), and principal of Bluewater Bay Elementary School in Niceville.  Prior to accepting the principalship of LJPS Ms. Gunter served as a Board Member for four years.  Ms. Gunter serves as a trainer and consultant throughout the South.

Email Ms. Gunter

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School-Based Leadership

Mrs. Mary Gunter, Principal

Ms. Phyllis Green, Asst. Principal for Operations

Ms. Julie Jenzen, Asst. Principal for Elementary

Ms. Peggy Nehring, Asst. Principal for Middle School

Ms. Jenzen

Hi, my name is Julie Jenzen. I am an Assistant Principal in charge of the elementary curriculum its programs.

I am a lifelong member of the Fort Walton Beach community. After graduating from Fort Walton Beach High School, I attended Okaloosa-Walton Junior College, now known as Okaloosa-Walton Community College, and The University of West Florida. I graduated with high honors earning a dual bachelor’s degree in Special and Elementary Education. After graduating from college, I started working in the Okaloosa County school system as a teacher. I taught fifteen years, seven in special education and eight in fourth. In 1998 I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in technology and a specialist in Educational Leadership.  I also have my gifted endorsement. 

I have a wonderful husband, Dave, who is the Director of the Informational Technology for the City of Fort Walton.  We have three children who all attend or attended Liza Jackson.  My oldest child graduated with a high school diploma and a associates degree from Okaloosa-Walton Collegiate High School in 2007.  I have another son in the 11th grade who attends the Okaloosa-Walton Collegiate High School and a daughter who is here with me in middle school at Liza Jackson.

My email address is jjenzen@lizajackson.org

Ms. Green

Phyllis Green serves as the Assistant Principal for School Operations.  She was born in New York state and was an Army brat until her family settled down in South Dakota. That didn’t last long, and she was soon an Air Force wife, stationed throughout the US. Her husband’s retirement made Okaloosa County their permanent home.

Ms. Green has four grown children, two grandchildren, two spoiled Australian Shepherds, and a sweet kitty. Her hobbies are gardening, reading, and playing with the pets.

Ms. Green started her career in education in 1980, when she began teaching elementary grades at Plew Elementary, in Niceville. She taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades there. In 1988 she transferred to Ruckel Middle School, where she taught 8th grade science.

From 1993-95 Ms. Green spent summers at Florida State University, earning a master’s degree and interning in biology at Tall Timbers Research Station and Apalachicola National Forest, where she worked on radio tracking of quail, insect population studies, and predation surveys. In 1996 she worked at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, creating curriculum materials. Ms. Green was Teacher-In-Residence at Vanderbilt University for the 1996-97 school year.

In 1997 Ms. Green began coordinating the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, which was a joint program between Ruckel Middle School and Niceville Senior High School. In that capacity she served as a member of the International Baccalaureate School Relations Committee for North America, and as a site visitor and trainer. She remained at Ruckel until 2001, when she came to Liza Jackson to develop the middle school progream

Her email address is pgreen@lizajackson.org

Peggy Nehring is our Assistant Principal for Middle School.  Her job is to work directly with teachers to ensure that the curriculum and procedures are in line with our commitment to a state-of-the-art middle school.

Ms. Nehring began her career as a French teacher, teaching in high school.  She was one of the original faculty members in 2001 when Liza Jackson opened its doors.  Imagine her surprise when she began teaching students in every grade from PK to 8th grade.  She would teach 8th grade one period and then have the 4-year olds the next.  Quite a challenge.

In 2004, after completing her master's degree, Ms. Nehring left us to take an assistant principalship at Crestview High School.  She returned to us in 2006 as the middle school AP.  Her experience in high school is valuable as she advises students and parents about course selection options.

Ms. Nehring is married with two adorable dogs, Bennie and Lucky. 

Email Ms. Nehring

Liza Jackson Preparatory School 2007