NICEVILLE, Fla. — Jessica Landry, Okaloosa’s 2021 Teacher of the Year and a graduate of Niceville High School, has been named assistant principal of Bluewater Elementary School in Niceville by the Okaloosa County School Board.
Landry has been an educator in Okaloosa County for nine years. She worked her first year at Destin Elementary School and was then called home to teach at Plew Elementary School, the first school Landry attended after her family moved to Niceville.
Between 2014 and 2019, Landry led numerous workshops for students at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC), completed her gifted endorsement, hosted classroom observations by other teachers and district personnel, and began working on her master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
In addition, she earned her Middle School Mathematics Certification, and in May of 2019, Landry completed her master’s degree.
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Based on her exceptional performance in the graduate program, she was selected to represent the University of West Florida’s Educational Leadership program abroad in China during the summer, according to the Okaloosa County School District. The following year Landry began serving as an adjunct professor in the teacher education program at NWFSC.
Landry was recognized as the 2021 Plew Teacher of the Year and went on to represent Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) as its District Teacher of the Year at the state level. She is now a member of the Florida Teacher Lead Network and continues to work with educators across the state to promote the profession, the OCSD said.
Most recently, Landry served as the middle school intensive reading teacher at Lewis School. Landry said that she is excited to leave her mark at Lewis School through the establishment of the Falcon Florida Future Educators of America.
Landry has been a part of the Niceville community since 1995. Her father served in the U.S. Air Force and retired at Eglin Air Force Base after her family moved to Niceville. She said that the warm welcome and smooth transition the teachers at Plew Elementary School provided her and her family fueled her inspiration to be a teacher.
Landry attended Ruckel Middle School and is a proud graduate of Niceville High School.
Truly believing in the power of community, Landry stayed local to complete her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from NWFSC.
Landry shares her home with her two canine companions Slim Jim and Mocha Bean. She enjoys reading, cooking, painting, and spending time with her friends and family.
