Mary Gunter
Mary K. Gunter graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Home Economics. She went on to earn her Masters degree in Educational Leadership, from the University of West Florida. Mary has extensive experience as a teacher, principal and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for Okaloosa County Schools. Ms. Gunter served as a Liza Jackson Board Member since the school opened in 2001 until she became the LJPS Principal from 2006 to 2015. After retiring from the Principal assignment, Ms. Gunter returned to serve as a Board member in the fall of 2015.
Julie Jenzen
Julie Jenzen has been a resident of Fort Walton Beach since 1968. She attended local elementary schools, Max Bruner Jr Middle School and Fort Walton Beach High School. After graduating high school she attended Florida State University and The University of West Florida where she received a dual bachelor’s degree in Special and Elementary Education. She later attained a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Technology and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida. Mrs. Jenzen taught in the Okaloosa county public schools for 14 years in both special education and 4th grade. In 2001, Mrs. Jenzen, as a founding faculty member, helped open Liza Jackson Preparatory school as the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator. Later she was promoted and served as an Vice Principal until her retirement in 2019. After retirement, Mrs. Jenzen returned to Liza Jackson Preparatory School in January 2019 to serve as an LJPS School Board Member.
Dr. Amy Semenov
Dr. Amy Semenov began her career in education in Florida in 1995 when she began teaching in an all girls day treatment program in Pensacola, Florida. After working at PACE Center for Girls, she went to work as the Education Coordinator at a Juvenile Justice residential facility for boys in 1996. In 1997 she began working for Dr. Bill Rader as the first teacher hired to work in the first charter school in Okaloosa County: Okaloosa Academy Charter School. Since 1997, she has worked in charter school throughout the states of Florida and California. Dr. Semenov has written and developed charter documents and policy and procedure manuals to help create quality charter schools and she strongly believes in the work that Charter Schools do to serve all children. She has two children of her own, whom attend Liza Jackson Preparatory School where she has served on the Board of Directors since 2012. Presently, Dr. Semenov is the Professional Development Coordinator for three charter schools in the panhandle of Florida and enjoys being with her family, diving and skiing and travel.
Kate Henderson
More information to come soon.