Our Staff

Mrs. Amber Perryman, Principal

Mrs. Amber Perryman is a driven educational leader with a professional background working collaboratively with business and community stakeholders. She is experienced in all levels of the educational field, including classroom teacher, department chair, school accreditation, special project teams, school safety, and leadership. Mrs. Perryman also brings extensive experience in program fundraising and grant writing.Mrs. Perryman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with a dual emphasis in Economics & Sociology (cum laude) and holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Administration (M.Ed.). She is a Florida certified Professional Educator in English (6-12), Social Science (6-12), and Educational Leadership (K-12), and has additional training in Crisis Intervention, CRISS, Ruby Payne, Kagan, Fred Jones, Charlotte Danielson Framework, Harry Wong Classroom Management, Reading Intervention, Exceptional Students Education (ESE), and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Dr. Suha A. Jaber, Executive Director

Dr. Suha Jaber founded Rising Leaders Academy in 2012. She served as the Principal until January 1, 2019, then became the Executive Director. She is also the Instructional Coach for the hands-on expeditionary learning model the school implements. Dr. Jaber comes from the state of New Jersey, where she was a full-time university instructor. According to a popular rating website by students, she is ranked among the top 25 professors in the country out of one million. Business Insider named her as one of the best 25 professors in America. In addition, Princeton Review named her as one of the best 300 professors in the country. She received an Excellence in Teaching Award and was recognized for her course/curriculum coordinator accomplishments.Dr. Jaber holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Mathematics Education and Computer Science, a Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership with a specialty in Curriculum and Instruction (Summa Cum Laude). She also completed Beacon courses in Gifted, Exceptional Students Education (ESE), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). She is a certified Heroic Imagination Project workshop trainer and is certified in High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership and Teamwork through Northwest University. Dr. Jaber brings pioneering ideas to the school and provides an education model based on sound research and proven success. She created a public charter school accessible to all children of Bay County that offers an exceptional learning environment and innovative educational solutions.

Mrs. Alison Johnson, Coordinator of Curriculum & Instruction

This is Mrs. Johnson’s 3rd year at RLA and 12th year teaching. She moved to Bay County from Cherokee County, Georgia where she was 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year.  After many years of excellent teaching, she now serves as the Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction. She holds a Bachelors in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and certification for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Mrs. Johnson is married with two adult children, one who will soon graduate from Kennesaw State University with a degree in athletic coaching and another one graduated from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) with a degree in Education and will begin her first year of teaching this year.  Mrs. Johnson enjoys spending time with her husband shopping, fishing, traveling, and relaxing on the beach.

Mrs. Shelia Murphy, Data Clerk

Mrs. Shelia works with the Executive Director, Dr. Jaber, on school data. She completed secretarial studies at Haney Vocational School and has completed various courses at Gulf Coast State College. Shelia’s previous office experience includes providing support to top-level corporate executives, managing an office of a local non-profit organization, and office work in the construction and medical fields. Shelia is has been at Rising Leaders for six years and enjoys working with our staff and students. Working at Rising Leaders has inspired Shelia to continue her educational pursuits, and she is working on obtaining her degree in History.

Miss Victoria Cordell, Cafeteria Manager

Miss Victoria Cordell has been delivering nutritious school meals since 1999. She worked in several counties throughout the state of Florida. She started her foodservice career with Bay District Schools and had been elected Employee of the Year. She came to Rising Leaders Academy from Monroe County, where she also received the Year Award. She is Serv Safe certified and holds several certificates from the Florida Department of Education Division of Food Nutrition and Wellness. She made her way back to Bay County after Hurricane Michael so she can support family and friends. She loves encouraging children to choose healthily.

Mrs. Rebecca Foster, Front Office Assistant

Born and raised in New Mexico, Mrs. Foster relocated to Tyndall AFB with her family in 2014. She has two sons who attend RLA. With previous work in healthcare, Mrs. Foster joins our team as our Front Office Assistant. This will be Mrs. Foster’s first year here at RLA. 

OUR TEACHERS

Click here to access FL DOE teacher certification information. 

KINDERGARTEN

Mrs. Lena Kharaieh

This will be Mrs. Kharaieh’s third year teaching kindergarten at RLA. She is a parent of three students who have attended RLA from kindergarten. She has six years experience of teaching STEAM based preschool at, as well as Science camp, at the Science and Discovery Center in Panama City, Florida. After preparing preschool students to enter kindergarten for many years, she is very excited to help the incoming kindergarten class succeed at RLA, as well as watch some of her past students grow into successful learners.

Mrs. Sam Martone

Mrs. Martone has been teaching, mentoring, volunteering, and serving in Bay District for over 20 years.  The majority of her experience was at Oakland Terrace Elementary School for the Performing Arts before it closed in 2019, after Hurricane Michael.  She is also known as Ms. Sam and “Mamma Sam” to the many children that she has influenced over the years. She has been married for 30 years and has 3 grown children and a grandson.  She has been a nutrition consultant for 24 years, and she and her husband co-own a local charter fishing business. She is an active member of City Church at Northside.  She enjoys anytime with her family and 5 dogs, live music, and walks enjoying the beauties of creation. This is her 5th year at RLA. Last year she taught Kindergarten at RLA.

FIRST GRADE

Kristen Kelly

Ms. Kelly holds her professional teaching certification in K-6 Elementary Education and has been teaching for nice years. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Emory University and a Business certificate from Harvard Business School. Ms. Kelly established RLA’s Student Council and led RLATV, as well as the yearbook. She is eager to continue helping students find their voice and make a positive impact on their community this year through Student Council.

Dr. Shirley Tew

This is Dr. Tew’s first year at RLA but her 27th year in education. She holds Florida and
Alabama Certifications. She received her Doctorate in Education in 2007 from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida. She has an Educational Administrator Certification for Grades P-12 and an Educational Specialist for Elementary Grades K-9 and Early Childhood, Grades P-3. She strives to be a student-focused teacher, possessing a strong commitment to provide accommodations, modification, and/or adaptations to the curriculum to meet the student’s needs. She believes in being a solid team player, to maintain excellence in education.

SECOND GRADE

Mrs. Kathleen Gaffga

Mrs. Kristin Jeffrey

My name is Kristin Jeffrey. I have been married for 22 years and have 3 children with one attending RLA. I have a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. I am Reading Endorsed and ESOL endorsed. This is my 17th year teaching and third year at Rising Leaders Academy. I have taught grades Kdg through 4th. I also worked 2 years at The Boys and Girls Club teaching kdg through 5th grade after school. I live on 10 acres and have a farm. We have goats, pigs, ducks, chickens, quail, a dog, a cat, bearded dragons, a turtle, bees, and fish. I am a huge animal lover. I enjoy making goat milk soaps and lotions.

THIRD GRADE

Mr. Mark Gregory

Mark Gregory graduated from FSU-PC, where he received his Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. He has worked as an instructor in private education since 2003. Mr. Gregory taught both math and science at RLA over the past six years. He is certified in Elementary Education K-6, and Earth-Space Science 6-8. He is endorsed for English for Speakers of Other Languages and Reading. His 8th-grade science FCAT scores for 2021 had 100 percent proficiency. As a third grade math teacher, Mr. Gregory’s class scores were among the highest in the County. He enjoys writing poetry, playing the piano and guitar, and singing with his family. As a child, Mark struggled with a condition called Erb’s Palsy, resulting from a broken nerve in his left shoulder. With the support of his parents and teachers he developed a positive “can do” mental attitude toward life’s difficulties.

Ms. Michelle England

This will be Ms. England’s first year of teaching 3rd Grade English Language Arts (ELA) and Social Studies at RLA.  Ms. England has 6 years of experience teaching ELA to middle and high school students in Bay county.  She is certified to teach Elementary K-6 and English Language Arts 6-12. She has worked in education a total of 16 years, with experience teaching and working with all age groups from Pre-K to 12th grade.  Ms. England is a fur mom who loves to read and write.  Some of her poetry has been published in literary magazines both online and in print. She enjoys cooking, baking, kayaking, going to the beach, and camping. 

FOURTH GRADE

This will be Mrs. Amberley Schmidt’s 2nd year at Rising Leaders Academy. Her passion for learning began when she started teaching ESOL(English for Speakers of Other Languages) to students overseas, which led her to obtain her teaching certificate in Florida. She immediately began teaching here in Panama City. Mrs. Schmidt has a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and has earned her Reading and ESOL endorsements through the state of Florida. She is passionate about learning both inside and outside of the classroom. Mrs. Schmidt believes that strong relationships with students and parents is the formula for success in the classroom. Mrs. Schmidt is married with two daughters and one fluffy cat. When Mrs. Schmidt is not teaching she is leading her local Girl Scout troop, crocheting, traveling, or tending to her bees in her backyard apiary.

Amberley Schmidt

Presley Carico

FIFTH GRADE

Mrs. Cooley

Mrs. Cooley joined R.L.A. at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, bringing a diverse background to her role as an educator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Florida State University and is currently pursuing her K-6 certification. Before her tenure at R.L.A., Mrs. Cooley served as a child abuse investigator for the state of Florida. Prior to that, she enjoyed a successful career in journalism, where she spent over a decade as a writer, copy editor, and page designer for various daily and weekly newspapers across the Florida Panhandle. Notably, she found particular satisfaction in editing and designing the Panama City News Herald and its weekly entertainment section, the Entertainer. Additionally, she gained valuable experience as a substitute teacher in Jackson County. Mrs. Cooley is passionate about creating a dynamic and engaging environment for her students, particularly in the areas of reading, writing, and social studies.  

Mr. Mathew Bunnell

Mr. Bunnell will be returning for his 5th year at R.L.A. and his 8th year of teaching overall. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Asbury University and is certified to teach Kindergarten through Sixth grade. During these years he has earned the rank of highly effective and teacher of the year teacher. He has experience educating in diverse settings utilizing Individual Education Plans and Behavioral Accommodations. Before he was a teacher, he worked as a para-professional in a classroom with multiple disabilities and as an assistant at an outdoors Waldorf Kindergarten and pre-school. Mr. Bunnell was also trained as a barista in Jacksonville, FL (Lilly’s Coffee Bar) and has founded ‘Bunnell Brew House’ in his classroom with contributions from his administration and coworkers. He enjoys using his training in drama and comedy to keep students engaged through creative methods of instruction. His ultimate goal is to create a ‘strict but nurturing’ educational setting where students feel valued, uplifted, while being prepared for the future.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS

Mr. Roland Hankins

Mr. Hankins worked at Rising Leaders for 6 years as a mathematics teacher. He was recognized by the state of Florida as a High Impact teacher for his students’ high math test scores, which were the top in the district and among the top in the state, for the FSA and EOC. Mr. Hankins is a certified teacher who has taught every grade level and around 12 years of teaching experience in Bay County. Most of his experience has been in middle school science and mathematics in Bay District Schools. He is certified in Middle School Mathematics Education, as well as K-6. He also completed training in STEM at Gulf Coast College, which include programming and robotics. In addition, Mr. Hankins completed a Beacon course in teaching Exceptional Students Education (ESE).

Mr. Daniel Woodrum

Mr. Woodrum started teaching in 2022 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University. He comes from a long line of teachers, including his father, grandmother, and several other close family members. He is blessed with a wife and two young sons, and loves to spend his free time with them. Otherwise, he is an avid reader of all things historical, recreational guitar player, and often volunteers with his local church.

HIGH SCHOOL Science & Mathematics Teacher

Mr. Kevin Jacobs

This is Mr. Jacobs second year at RLA. He has 38 years in education at multiple schools. Mr. Jacobs retired from teaching in Georgia after 31 years before coming to Florida 8 years ago. In Florida he was an administrator at a local school for almost five years. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (B.S) from Piedmont University with minors in education and curriculum. Mr. Jacobs also holds a Master’s degree in Science Education (M.S) and a Specialist degree in Curriculum (EdS). He was nominated several times for STAR teacher while in Georgia. Over the years he has taught AP Chemistry, AP Physics (Calculus), Physical Science, Biology, Astronomy, Geology, and many science related subjects. Mr. Jacobs has coached multiple sports in his degree. In 2001 his girls basketball team captured the state championship. He was named the Georgia Coach-of-the-Year for the team’s accomplishments. During the same year his softball team also captured the state championship.The veteran teacher also served in the USAF for almost five years. He is a disabled veteran. Mr. Jacobs believes his approach to teaching is to make each challenge exciting for his students. He believes that students are involved in the science classroom and in a laboratory setting.

Middle English Teacher

Cheryl Keel

My name is Cheryl Keel. I am so happy to be at Rising Leaders Academy! I have been in education for 32 years. I hold a Bachelors in Education, a Masters in Educational Leadership and a Masters in Music. This will be my 28th year in the classroom. I began my journey in the private school setting for the first 16 years teaching high school and middle school Language Arts. I also taught elementary music. For 4 years I became a curriculum coordinator and writer for Florida State University for the Florida Center for Reading Research. I decided to go back to the classroom in 2013 and teach Elementary Reading Interventions. In 2016, I moved into middle school and I believe they are by far, my favorite group to teach. I have been married to Ron for 33 years and we have 2 sons. We also have 2 grandchildren who we adore! I love spending time with my family, boating, fishing, swimming and crafting. Best of all, I really love teaching!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

Mr. Timothy Minnick, PE Coach/Director of School Safety & Security

Coach Tim is a native of Southern Illinois and is in his second year at Rising Leaders Academy. Coach Tim is a former Illinois Law Enforcement Officer (Police Sergeant) of 13 years,  having also served as an Undercover Special Agent during that time. Coach Tim has been a Japanese Martial Arts practitioner and Instructor for over 20 years.  Coach Tim is the founder and former owner of Shinobi Fitness. There he taught members as young as 4 years old all the way up to clients in their 70s, Obstacle Course Training, Fitness, and Martial Arts. Coach Tim competed on American Ninja Warrior in 2014 (NBC, Season 6) and then competed on the obstacle course television show (CBS) The Million Dollar Mile, in 2018.Coach Tim has brought his love of Obstacle Course Training along with state of the art equipment, to Rising Leaders Academy and enjoys teaching it to all ages. Coach Tim also serves as the Safety Director, which includes training staff and students on safe school practices.

MR. ETHAN DAVIS

A native of Lynn Haven, FL, Ethan has been involved in athletics his whole life. He received a bachelors degree in Sport and Fitness Management at Troy University while also receiving All-Conference honors on the football field as a defensive back for the University. After excelling in college, Ethan spent some time in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. After the Lions, Ethan also was blessed to play professional football in the CFL, in which he played for the Montréal Allouettes and the Hamilton Tiger-cats. After his playing career he was the defensive backs football coach for Arnold High school in Panama City Beach, FL for 2 seasons. He has years of experience of teaching PE (K-12). Throughout his years of training students and student athletes, he has trained professional, college, high school, and adolescent athletes. He has a passion to teach the youth the skills and knowledge that he’s been blessed to attain throughout his playing, teaching, and coaching career.

ARABIC TEACHER

Mrs. Fatma Elemam

Mrs. Elemam has a Bachelor of Education in Arabic Language and Masters of Education from Bloomsburg University. She has over 20 years of experience in teaching Arabic. She taught all levels from kindergarten to university level, where she taught at Bloomsburg University. She has been teaching at Rising Leaders Academy for six years. She has a Teaching Certificate covering World Language.

SPANISH TEACHER

Mrs. Patricia Perkins

Mrs. Perkins has been teaching Spanish at RLA since it first opened in 2012. She was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award the four years she taught at her previous school, Panama City Renaissance School. Over the years, she has taken several courses on education and has fulfilled all the requirements to obtain her Professional Education Certification. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her background as an architect has made it easy for her to visualize and plan lessons that incorporate different forms of expression. This will be Mrs. Perkins’s 9th year at Rising Leaders Academy.

Art & Music Teacher

Ms. Rachel Cole

Mrs. Rachel Cole has been teaching Art and Music in the classroom for three years. She has also taught String instruction privately for ten years and directed the Wiregrass Youth Symphony Orchestra for eight years. Mrs. Cole studied Cello Performance at Florida State University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the Baptist College of Florida. She is passionate about teaching students to use their creativity and  imagination through Fine Arts.

Administrative Support

Ms. Pam Massimiani

Mrs. Pam is excited about her new role with the RLA family. She joins the team with over 10 years of administrative office assistant experience. Her previous work involvement included supporting corporate executives and office proficiency in the construction field. Pam has also had the privilege of volunteering and substituting in various positions for the last three years at Rising Leaders, giving her further insight into her current position. Pam believes that regardless of the area of education you work in, you still have an impact on the students, and you should make it a positive one. She looks forward to assisting students, parents, and staff to the best of her ability.

School Nurse

Delilah Dumrongkulraksa

My Name is Delilah Dumrongkulraksa. I obtained an Associates degree in nursing from Chipola College in 2008. I went on to get a BSN degree from The University of North West Florida. I have 10 years hospital experience and 2 years nursing home experience. I am a mother of two that attend RLA, and I am happy to be a part of the wonderful RLA team.