Educator Preparation Advisory Board

Jasmine Smith- Oak Ridge Elementary, Principal

Maribel Rivera- Tallahassee School of Math and Science, Gifted Instructor

Maria Pouncey- Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) Representative

John Selover- Panhandle Area Educational Consortium, Executive Director

Felisha Nicholson- Math Curriculum Specialist, Leon County

Kerri Anderson- W.T. Moore Elementary School, Principal

Ashley Scott- Owner of Oxford Learning Center, Community Representative

Scott Mazur- Leon County Teachers Association, President

Talethia Edwards- Title 1 Advisory Council, Chair

Primrose Cameron- Florida Education Association, Professional Development and Educational Research Director

Jennifer Powell- Godby High School, Assistant Principal of Curriculum

Stacy Chambers- Florida State University Schools, Executive Director

Sarah Hambree- Cobb Middle School, Principal

Benny Bolden- Nims Middle School, Principal

Joe Burgess- Chiles High School, Principal

Royle King- Omega Lamplighters, Principal

Tammy McGriff- Gasden County Schools, Assistant Superintendent

Frank Peterman- SFEA North Florida, Representative

Marcus Scott- Raa Middle School, Principal

Brenda Jarmon (BJ) - Retired Social Worker

Julia Moffa, Student Florida Association (SFEA), Representative

Angela Walker- Wakulla Schools, Chief Human Resource Officer

Talethia Edwards, Chair, Title 1 Advisory Council

Amy Reynolds, Principal, Governors Charter Academy

Ashley Scott, Leon County Title 1, Director

Stacey Chambers, Superintendent, FSU High

Primrose Cameron, Director of Professional Development, Florida Education Association

Tammy McGriff, Area Director for Elementary Instruction, Gadsden County School District

Royle King, Founder & Executive Director of Omega Lamplighters

Joe Burgess, Chiles High School, Principal

Carmen Conner, Pineview Elementary School, Principal

John Selover, Executive Director, Panhandle Area Educational Consortium

Brenda Jarmon (BJ), Retired Social Worker

Benny Bolden, R. Frank Nims Middle School, Principal

Scott Mazur, President, Leon County Teacher Association

Cory Oliver, Principal, Jefferson County K-12 Somerset School

Dionne Gerri Wilson, Graduate Assistant, School of Teacher Education, FSU

Melissa Kahlil, Student Florida Education Association (SFEA), Representative

Maria Pouncey, Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PEAC), Representative

Brenda Jarmon, Community Representative

Sherri Southerland, School of Teacher Education, Chair

Talethia Edwards, Founder and President of the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association and Executive Director of The H.A.N.D. Up Project

Talethia O. Edwards is a grassroots organizer, advocate, coalition builder and speaker. She is also a wife and mother of 8. She strongly believes in giving voice to those that have yet to discover their own voice, strategizing ways to empower and educate in order to change the patterns of poverty and low achievement. She does that through the work in the community organizing, parent leadership and advocacy locally, state and nationally. She is executive director of The H.A.N.D. Up Project, an anti-poverty and resource organization. She is also CEO of her own Community Development consulting firm, where she believes the only way to revitalize community is by uplifting both the people and place simultaneously. Recipient of many community awards and accolades, Talethia served as lead on a resident led planning process called the Neighborhood First plan and received a $6.4M investment from her local government and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the largest investment made in the history of Tallahassee in the community of color. She is starting the Leaping For Literacy Program in her neighborhood to incentivize students for meeting their reading goals which has since expanded to include a community wide book drive that ensures children in Title I schools can build their personal libraries at home. Check out her TedTalk entitled "One Grassroots Leader and her Commitment to Community" where it puts process to how she got her start in community and outlines strategies that she believes can work for anyone looking to make change in their community.

Primrose Cameron, Professional Development and Educational Research Director, Florida Education Association

Dr. Primrose Cameron has spent the last 20 years as a devoted educator, counselor, professional development specialist, community activist and union advocate. She is a graduate of Bethune Cookman University, Stetson University and Argosy University.

A daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who have been married for over 45 years, and provided a military upbringing for Primrose to appreciate the world around her.

Dr. Cameron has honed her skills as a motivational speaker, empowerment coach and author, who truly believes in assisting men and women towards the path of personal fulfillment. She has a gift of dialogue and communication that carries throughout a room and she has never met a stranger. As the author of Princess Primrose goes to Washington DC and Princess Primrose goes to Jamaica, she writes about children who blossom with love and care, family togetherness, kindness, and patience.

She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Junior Service League and NAACP. She is the founder of the Sisters Build Network, CEO/founder of Sisters Build Network for Girls, Inc. which provides mentoring and support for young girls in grades 3rd-12th, and the founder of the Calling a Few Good Men Conference to empower men.

Benny Bolden Principal, R. Frank Nims Middle School

Dr. Bolden is a native of Miami, Florida where he first received his musical inspiration during his earlier years of education. Dr. Bolden later graduated from Miami Norland Senior High school, where he was a student of Mr. Kenneth R. Tolbert and Mr. Anthony E. Simons III. He majored in Music after being encouraged by Mr. Tolbert and Mr. Simons, to cultivate the gift that God has given him to touch the lives of others.

He received his bachelors’ degree in Music from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where he was a conducting student of Dr. Julian E. White and Dr. Shelby R. Chipmen. Dr. Bolden later received his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and his Doctor of Education Degree in Higher Education. Dr. Bolden has performed with the “World Renowned Marching 100”, Symphonic Bands across Florida, and various Brass Ensembles. While at FAMU, he was very active and achieved legendary status as a musician and student leader. He has received countless awards for his musicianship, leadership, and commitment to service. Dr. Bolden was named in Who’s Who amongst teachers and received a proclamation from the City of Miami Mayor for his excellence in service among many other honors.

Dr. Bolden has served as Director of Bands at Belle Vue Middle School in Tallahassee, FL., Director of Bands and PAVAC Department Chair at Miami Northwestern, and most recently Director of Bands at Barron Collier High School where he developed it into one of the finest band programs in the country. Bands under his direction consistently earn Superior ratings at all levels of evaluation. In addition to earning Superior ratings at the State Concert Band Assessment and consecutive Otto Kraushaar Awards, in 2014, Bolden became the only director in the entire history of Collier County Public Schools to have three consecutive superiors at the Florida Bandmasters Association State Concert MPA. Bands under his leadership have performed for the President of United States Barak Obama, Latin Billboard Awards, Governor Rick Scott’s Inaugural Parade, NFL Super Bowl, Carnegie Hall in New York, Grand National Adjudicators Invitational and was recently invited to perform as a featured band at the prestigious Music for All (Bands of America). Dr. Bolden is an active adjudicator and highly sought guest conductor and clinician.

Dr. Bolden has served as an Administrator in Lee County, Jefferson County, and currently a Principal in Leon County. As an administrator, Dr. Bolden offers a history of progressive experience in development and oversight of academic programs, policies, and initiatives to promote student growth and achievement. Senior leadership experience serving students across multiple schools, with expertise in development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of challenging and inspiring curricula. Dr. Bolden is passionate education advocate who is successful in driving regulatory and standards compliance; directing instructional programs to meet student needs; and building top-performing teams committed to the academic success of each student.  

In addition to, Dr. Bolden currently serves as an adjunct professor at Florida State University. Dr. Bolden was awarded the TCC Cherry Hall Alexander African American History Award, is a member of Leadership Tallahassee (class 38), Delta Epsilon Tau National Honor Society, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Florida Bandmaster Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Association of School Administrators, the National Education Association, while serving on the Florida State University Educator Preparation Advisory Board. Furthermore, Dr. Bolden is an Ordained Elder and active member of the Family Worship and Praise Center. Dr. Bolden is married with three children Dorion, Dyani, and Dion.

Joe Burgess, Principal, Chiles High School

Mr. Joe Burgess earned his Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education in 1998 and Master’s in Educational Leadership in 1999 from Florida State University. A former teacher, coach, and athletic director, Mr. Burgess was appointed Athletic Director in 2000 and subsequently Dean of Students in 2004 at Swift Creek Middle School. In 2005, he was appointed to Assistant Principal at Chiles High School. He became principal of Springwood Elementary in 2007, Swift Creek Middle School in 2009, and has served as principal of Chiles High School since 2012. Mr. Burgess was formerly on the Board of Directors for the Big Bend Division of the March of Dimes, Co-Coordinator for Leon County Schools United Way Campaign, and Past-President for the Florida Association of Secondary School Principals (FASSP).

Tammy McGriff, Area Director for Elementary Instruction, Gadsden County School District

Tammy McGriff has over 30 years of educational experience with public education in a variety of settings. Mrs. McGriff’s unfathomable commitment to making a difference in education spans from her service at the local level as classroom teacher and district director to the state level as Senior Program Director of Title I at Florida Department of Education to her current role as Area Director of Elementary Instruction with the Gadsden County School District. She is an active member of Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church where she serves as the Church Treasurer.  She also serves as a liaison on the Spiritual Leadership Council of Big Bend Hospice (Gadsden), a Board member of Healthy United Resources, Inc. and a member of the National Hook-up of Black Women, Inc. A native of Gadsden County, she earned an Associate of Arts degree from Tallahassee Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Florida State University, a Master of Science in Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology and an Educational Specialist in Curriculum, Instruction, Management and Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She has relentlessly pursued avenues to positively impact education, with a sincere desire to leave a positive mark wherever she has served.

Royle King II, Founder & Executive Director of Omega Lamplighters

Royle King II is a native of Dallas, Texas who moved to Tallahassee, Florida and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University in Broadcast Journalism. His entire life is a testimony to good parents, mentors and men. He spent his teen years in two mentoring programs that would change his life and later change the lives of young men around the world. The Omega Sparks, a mentoring auxiliary of the local Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists journalism boot camp. These programs laid the foundation for success and desire to help others. After graduating from high school, King vowed to dedicate his to helping others and giving back the same way so many people gave to him. In 2008 while he was still an undergraduate at FAMU, the Omega Lamplighters mentoring program was born. Since 2008, the program has grown to over 120 male youth in the Big Bend area with chapters all over the United States and Naples, Italy. This year the Junior Lamplighters were launched to reach male youth even earlier. King is the youngest-ever elected chapter president of the Chi Omega chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. He has also won several awards and distinctions, including being selected as a Black Enterprise Be Modern Man; being presented a proclamation from the City of Dallas; was recognized by Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; was featured in a nationally televised show "Mentoring Kings"; was featured in the Tallahassee Democrat, WFSU, WTXL, WCTV and 96.1 FM media outlets; and the Omega Psi Phi State of Florida Keeper of Records and Seal. 

Angie Walker, Chief Human Resource Officer, Wakulla County Schools

Angie Walker is a the Chief Human Resource Officer for Wakulla County Schools, where she trains and supports new teachers and aspiring leaders.  Mrs. Walker’s role provides her the opportunity to fulfill a variety of responsibilities and work with all categories of employees, both instructional and non-instructional. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Mrs. Walker taught for 21 years, was a principal for 9 years and is presently serving in her third year with the Wakulla’s Human Resource Department. Mrs. Walker is a native Floridian who enjoys spending time with her family and friends, boating, the outdoors, exercising, and the ongoing opportunity to positively and passionately impact the field of education and all those who join it.   

Ashley Scott Owner, Oxford Learning Academy

Mrs. Ashley Scott is the owner and operator of Oxford Learning Academy, a preschool dedicated to laying the foundational blocks of creativity and scholarship. She is also the founder of Creative Mind Solutions, Inc., a non-profit that develops creative supports and educational literacy services for over 790 families.

Mrs. Scott has worked in education for over 15 years. She has worked at the Florida Department of Education in the Bureaus of Education Information and Accountability Services, Career and Adult Education, and Federal Educational Programs. Prior to transitioning to the school level, she served as the lead program monitor for the state’s multi-billion-dollar Title I, Part A Program. She also served as a program monitor for the Turnaround School Improvement 1003 (a) and (g) grants.

Mrs. Scott has served as a kindergarten and first grade exceptional student education teacher, coordinator of state and federal grants, and 21st Century program administrator. She has also served as the Title I Part A and migrant education administrator at Leon County Schools. 

Mrs. Scott serves on several boards, such as the Florida State University College of Education’s Educator Preparation Advisory Board, Florida Afterschool Alliance, the Board of Directors for the North Florida March of Dimes market, and Gowns for Her.  

Within her local community, she has secured over 60 million dollars in grant proposals to support education and expand services for local non-profit organizations.

She has successfully developed, created, and coordinated professional development opportunities for over 700 teachers and staff. She has served as a regular guest speaker and expert presenter for educational conferences throughout the state, each time leaving only standing room. Mrs. Scott enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Jonathan and their two children.

The advisory board shall consist of members sufficient in number to promote and actively assist the College of Education in achieving and fulfilling its mission and goals. Membership will be limited to a maximum of 20 members. Each member will have demonstrated outstanding leadership, exemplary citizenship, and dedication to the field of education.

The advisory board members will be nominated and approved by the chair of The Educator Preparation Advisory Board after consultation with department faculty and the AB members.

The AB members will be appointed to serve one two-year term. Membership may be extended beyond two-year term at the willingness of the member to serve and the decision of the department chair.

Board members are required to attend the board meetings. Members missing two (2) consecutive board meetings may be requested to resign.

The advisory board chair, vice chair, or co-chair will preside at all meetings. In the absence or inability of the chair to serve, the vice-chair or co-chair will serve as the presiding officer. In the absence of the vice chair, or co-chair, the department chair will serve as board chair. The organization of the board may consist of several standing subcommittees as the board finds necessary.

The chair, vice-chair or co-chair will meet with the department chair throughout the duration of their term as needs arise.

• Agenda - February 2024
• Agenda - October 2023
• Agenda - February 2023
• Agenda - November 2022 
• Agenda - June 2022
• Agenda - November 2019
• Agenda - February 2020
• Agenda - June 2020
• Agenda - February 2021
• Agenda - June 2021
• Agenda - November 2021
• Agenda - February 2022