Adjuncts
Dr. Melanie Cleveland
My career began in 1999 as a middle school teacher. I taught English Language Arts, Social Studies and Reading, served as a Literacy coach and English Language Arts Subject Area Leader, I returned to school to earn a Master’s in English and Education and later completed a Doctorate in Educational Leadership in Teaching and Learning. My administrative experiences began in 2008 as Coordinator for Secondary Education in Osceola County. Subsequent roles I held were Supervisor for Secondary Reading in Hillsborough County, literacy leader on the Florida Department of Education’s Differentiated Accountability Team for Region 4, Senior Administrator for Secondary Curriculum and Instruction in Orange County, and school administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. I have taught as an adjunct professor for Hillsborough Community College, the University of South Florida, and Florida Atlantic University. I have a comprehensive understanding of education from pre-kindergarten to college and career, and I am currently serving as the Principal for Bellalago Academy a PK-8 school.
Dr. Amy Flowers
With over 30 years of experience in education, I bring a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to my role as an adjunct professor. I earned my Bachelor's in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from FIU, a Master's in Reading, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCF. My career began in Miami, teaching at the elementary level, before moving to Central Florida, where I continued teaching and later became a Literacy Coach, Assistant Principal, and now Principal in Osceola District Schools. A passionate advocate for children, I use my broad experience to mentor future educators and foster leadership in education.
Dr. Michelle Herrington
Dr. Herrington has served as a teacher, professional developer, assistant principal, and is currently a school principal in St. Lucie Public Schools. She has served as a classroom teacher for 8 years teaching both 3rd and 4th grades. She believes that education is the great equalizer and that all students, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or zip code deserve a quality education. Education was her own personal pathway from poverty and she believes strongly in its power to level the playing field. There is no better profession than the one that provides a child the resources and skills to be anything they want to be!
Dr. Chris Jones
Dr. Jones has served as a school administrator in Martin County since 2008 and is currently the Principal at Stuart Middle School. It has been his privilege to support and mentor current and aspiring administrators during his tenure. These professionals represent the future of school leadership. He believes that their impact on teachers and students who will require effective learning opportunities to meet complex and challenging demands of education cannot be understated. He is grateful for the chance to pay forward the support and guidance he has always been given.
Dr. Greg Laws
I began school site administration in 2002 and served as an assistant principal in Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County, and as assistant principal and principal in Martin County. Out of the sixteen years as a school site administrator ten of those years were for high school. After having the opportunity to positively impact various school sites and populations in multiple school districts a new opportunity to impact the entire district arose. Currently, I am the Coordinator of Assessment and Accountability of the Martin County School District and have been enjoying the journey for six years.
My career has come full circle in essence as I started my educational career as a drop-out prevention teacher in 1997. Now in addition to all the student assessments I oversee, I have the wonderful opportunity to work with our high school graduation specialists. Together we collaborate on ensuring we do everything possible for all students to make it to the finish line and walk across that stage.
I believe one of the most important responsibilities of leaders is to support the growth of others. It is truly fulfilling when you see a former student become an assistant principal, former teachers become assistant principals, and former assistant principals become principals and district administrators.
I am honored to be part of the FAU Elite Program and look forward to helping our aspiring leaders seek their highest potential.
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Dr. Tracey Miller
Dr. Miller is the Deputy Superintendent in the Martin County School District, having also served her community as a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal at the elementary school level, and Assistant Superintendent of Academics. She has been at the district office in a variety of positions for more than ten years with over 25 years of experience as an administrator. Tracey was inspired to become a school leader by the principal who hired her as a teacher and the team she worked with who often noticed she was able to clearly see the big picture. Big picture thinking and understanding the enormous impact educators have on individuals and the community is critical to success. Among her greatest joys is having the opportunity to work alongside passionate educators who she once supported as a student, teacher, or fellow administrator and watching them positively impact students and schools. She also enjoys integrating her knowledge of teaching and learning with the operational functions to further support academic achievement. Tracey earned her Master’s, Specialist, and Doctorate from FAU and has enjoyed supporting aspiring administrators through the FAU ELITE program as an adjunct instructor. Dr. Miller looks forward to welcoming future leaders to the program.
Dr. Adrian Ocampo
Dr. Adrian Ocampo grew up in NYC and earned a bachelor's and masters' degrees from New York State University schools and Florida Atlantic University. Recently, he earned his Doctoral Degree in Public Administration from Capella University. While attending college and graduate school he was a member of the US Marine Corps Reserve and was honorably discharged as a Corporal after six years of service. He has served as an Athletic Coach, Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Assistant Principal, Principal of four schools, Executive Director of Schools, and the Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability/District’s Equity Officer. He has worked in education for 27 years.
He also serves the community as a Board Member of the Humane Society (2019-2022) and as an Honor Guard in the Marine Corps League. Mr. Ocampo has three children, one in college, one in automotive technical school, and one in the fourth grade. His hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, and weight training. His favorite position was being a HS Principal at Pahokee HS and Port St. Lucie HS. His future goals include continuing to serve the school district, university and the community in an educational and/or leadership capacity.
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Dr. Joseph Stanley
Dr. Joseph Stanley has devoted his career to serving the students of Okeechobee County. Currently the Director of Human Resources for Okeechobee County Schools, Dr. Stanley has previously served as both a principal and an assistant principal. He has also held several district-level leadership positions, including Coordinator of K-12 Accountability & Assessment and Coordinator of Instructional Technology. Prior to his time in leadership, he served as the District’s Federal Programs Resource Teacher and was a classroom teacher at the elementary level. Dr. Stanley is guided by a quote from Margaret Mead, who said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Dr. Stanley understands that school leaders are that small group and they have the ability to shape the future. This is what drives him to help develop tomorrow’s school leaders.
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Dr. Tamar-Belgraves
Dr. Tamar-Belgraves presently serves as the Assistant Principal responsible for the School Improvement Plan, Title 1, Visual, Performing Arts, Professional Development, along with Career & Technical Education Programs at a High School. She spent 3 years as a full-time classroom teacher and then assumed the role of Career Specialist for 7 years. During those 7 years as Career Specialist, she was fortunate to continue refining her teaching practice, at times instructing up to 3 classes each year along with fulfilling other duties. Creating an environment centered on trust, where all stakeholders feel safe and valued. Within this system, leaders serve not only in a transformational capacity, but as servant leaders focused on the needs and overall development of people. "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Dr. Karen Vislocky
Dr. Karen Vislocky is a public-school educator with 26 years of experience in Osceola County. She received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and moved to Florida to begin her career as an exceptional student education teacher. She earned her post graduate degrees in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida. She has elementary and middle school experience, Title I and non-title experience, working as a teacher, dean, assistant and principal. She now serves as the senior manager of student success and instructional improvement, focusing on supporting the different evaluation systems within the district and building teacher leaders on the leadership pipeline.
Karen believes in all students achieving at high levels in classroom learning environments that encourage students to work together, think critically, and problem solve as they become college and career ready. This is achieved by building a culture of collaboration, shared knowledge, feedback, and coaching as we continuously learn, reflect, and know that we are better together.
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