Okaloosa County School Board approves new leadership

In Brief:

🏫 Laura King promoted to principal at Davidson Middle School after nearly two decades in Okaloosa classrooms.
🌍 Eva Ratley named assistant principal at Elliott Point, bringing global teaching experience and fresh leadership training.
👏 Community support and unanimous board approval mark a strong vote of confidence in both appointments.

The Okaloosa County School Board unanimously approved two leadership appointments on June 23, naming Laura King as the new principal of Davidson Middle School and Eva Ratley as assistant principal at Elliott Point Elementary School.

Superintendent Marcus Chambers introduced both candidates and praised the community support present at the meeting.

“When you see two people being appointed and you see the number of people here, I know to this board, to myself, it makes such a huge difference,” said Chambers.

Laura King steps up at Davidson

Laura King, a North Carolina native, was formally appointed after a motion by School Board member Tim Bryant and a second by Steve Hehnley. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

King began her teaching career in 2001 with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. After relocating to Goldsboro, she spent three years teaching second and third grade.

In 2005, she and her husband moved to Okaloosa County, where she has since served at several elementary schools and, most recently, as assistant principal at Davidson Middle.

“I want to thank Superintendent Chambers and the school board for this opportunity and their belief in me,” King said. “As I begin this new chapter, the Air Force brought my husband and me to Florida 20 years ago, and we never looked back.

“We were both blessed with jobs that bring us joy every day, and the Emerald Coast has become our home.”

King also thanked her parents, who traveled from North Carolina, as well as her mentors in education.

“Looking forward, I’m excited about continuing to strengthen and fortify the Davidson Village that Miss Tew, Miss Rushmeyer, and I have been cultivating over the past two years,” she said. “Go Panthers.”

Eva Ratley joins Elliott Point Elementary

The board also unanimously approved the appointment of Eva Ratley as assistant principal at Elliott Point Elementary.

Ratley, born into a military family, has a bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and earned her master’s in educational leadership from the University of West Florida in 2024.

Her 20-year teaching career has taken her to multiple countries, where she has taught pre-K through fifth grade. She joined Lewis School in 2010 and most recently served as dean of students.

“I want to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the board and to Mr. Chambers for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity,” Ratley said. “It’s truly an honor, and I’m both humbled and excited to step into this new role.”

She credited numerous mentors for guiding her leadership journey and also thanked her children, friends, and colleagues at Lewis School.

“To Mr. (Scott) Nuss and my new Elliott Point family — I’m thrilled about becoming a part of your team,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together. Go Eagles.”