Seaside School
10 Smolian Circle
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

Phone: 850-231-0396
Fax: 850-231-4725

Cathy Brubaker :: Principal

Cathy Brubaker received her Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of West Florida in 1991. She received her Master’s Degree in Education/Training and Management Systems in 1997. After receiving her Master’s degree she completed the course work for certification in administration. Mrs. Brubaker’s teaching experience includes teaching students with learning disabilities at the elementary and high school levels in Okaloosa County and as an adjunct instructor for the University of West Florida and Nova University. She has conducted workshops for other educators for the Okaloosa and Walton School system and the Northwest Region of Florida. She has also been a presenter at the Florida Educational Technology Conference held each year in the state of Florida. Mrs. Brubaker has been at Seaside Neighborhood School since 1999. Along with her two degrees in Education, she has a black belt degree in Tae Kwon Do. Mrs. Brubaker enjoys working out at the gym, painting, camping, hiking, and watching her husband race his shifter kart.

EMAIL CATHY BRUBAKER

Betty Corley :: Administrative Assistant

Betty and her husband, Mack moved to Santa Rosa Beach in 2004. Prior to that, she lived in Semmes, AL which is located in Mobile County. Betty began her career in education in the Mobile County School System at Semmes Elementary where she worked for 10 years as the registrar and assistant bookkeeper. Her family moved to New Jersey with her husband’s work and was employed by Selective Insurance Company as a commercial lines underwriter assistant. They moved back to Mobile in 1992. She worked for 11 years with Smith Barney as a Financial Consultant Assistant. Betty has two sons, both married and five grandbaby girls.

EMAIL BETTY CORLEY

Dan Davila :: Sixth and Seventh Grade Math

Dan Davila graduated from Universidad del Norte (Colombia) with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Dan is married to Cheryl, who is an ESE teacher, and has a handsome four year old son named Drew. Dan spent much of his professional career in the financial world as a computer analyst. His desire to teach came from volunteering as a Special Olympics coach for eight years. Dan’s unique background offers real world experience and insight to students. Dan taught math at Freeport Middle before joining the Seaside family. Dan enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family.

EMAIL DAN DAVILA

Denise Findley :: Language Arts

Denise Findley is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1985. She began teaching in Tampa, Florida, teaching both elementary and middle school. After moving to Orlando, Mrs. Findley taught both elementary and middle school during her 11 years working in Orange County Public Schools. In Jacksonville, Florida, Mrs. Findley worked in a National Model School for the America’s Choice School Design at Twin Lakes Academy Elementary. Before joining the Seaside family, Mrs. Findley taught 4th grade at Butler Elementary. She is married to Kent with two children, Trey (currently attending Tallahassee Community College) and Kaley (a freshman at South Walton High School) and a Boston Terrier Butch. Mrs. Findley has been teaching for 22 years.

EMAIL DENISE FINDLEY

Serena Richard :: Health and Physical Education

Serena Richard graduated from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education in 1997. Before teaching, she worked as a fitness instructor at the Crystal Beach Fitness Club. In 1998, she was hired as the first Physical Education instructor for Seaside Neighborhood School. When Serena first started at SNS, there were no after-school sports. In her seven years as Physical Education instructor and Athletic Director, she worked tirelessly to create an athletic department that would provide students with opportunities to participate in after school sports that were competitive with surrounding counties. Serena took the 2005/2006 school year off after the birth of her second son. She returned in 2006/2007 as just the Physical Education instructor. Serena is married to her husband Seth and has two sons Skyler and Sander.

EMAIL SERENA RICHARD

Kim Mixson :: Science

Kim Mixson completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Kansas. Kim’s certification areas are in Elementary Education, Middle Grades Science, Middle Grades Social Studies, and Integrated Curriculum. Kim is currently teaching Integrated and Life Science. Kim has been teaching for fourteen years. Thirteen of those years have been at Seaside Neighborhood School. Kim is married to Lee and has two little girls Kingston and Zadie.

EMAIL KIM MIXSON

Lisa Porter :: Technology, Yearbook, and School Librarian

Lisa moved to Santa Rosa Beach with her son in 2006. Prior to that, she lived in Mobile, AL where she was born and raised. Lisa has been an owner of several businesses in the last 17 years including a computer business for 11 of those years. She joined the staff of Seaside Neighborhood School in 2008 and has enjoyed using her talents to help shape and mold enthusiastic students. Lisa works with fundraising, manages the school library, maintains the computers and equipment, and teaches two elective classes, Yearbook and Technology. Lisa has one son and a five pound Morkie by the name of “Elvis”, which she says has not left the building.

EMAIL LISA PORTER

Jennifer Weintraub :: Social Studies

Jennifer Weintraub has been teaching at Seaside Neighborhood School since 2006. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Urban Studies. Mrs. Weintraub also has 30 hours of Masters level education classes. Prior to teaching at Seaside Neighborhood School, Mrs. Weintraub worked with her husband, Curt, at their Christmas store. Mrs. Weintraub and her husband have two children, David and Brianna, who graduated from Seaside Neighborhood School.

EMAIL JENNIFER WEINTRAUB

Charlotte Sause :: Reading

Charlotte Sause graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education in 1982. She has taught at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels. As director and head tennis pro of the Seaside Swim and Tennis Club, Charlotte developed the physical education program for the school along with the Swim and Tennis Club where she worked for ten years. Charlotte is currently finishing her reading endorsement and has taught at SNS for the past three years. When not working at school she works at home with her three horses, five dogs, two cats, one rabbit, five chickens and Billy, the goat. She also enjoys a variety of other leisure activities that include most sports, camping, traveling in the USA and abroad. Charlotte has two wonderful children, Kaylie and Tucker both graduates of Seaside Neighborhood School.

EMAIL CHARLOTTE SAUSE

Sharon Martin :: Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry

Sharon Martin graduated from Arkansas State University in 1984. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She worked several years in the financial and technology field. She received her certification in Education in 2004. She taught eighth graders for three years in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Ms. Martin moved to 30-A and joined the Seaside faculty in 2007. She has three children, Heather, Hannah and James, a granddaughter, Charley, and a dog named Buster.

EMAIL SHARON MARTIN

Elaine Parrett :: Radio

Elaine Parrett received her bachelors’ degrees in Journalism and English at Eastern Kentucky University. She obtained her master’s degree in English Education at the University of Louisville. Elaine’s teaching experience includes six years in the Fulton County system in Atlanta where she taught language arts, mass media, and speech courses. Here at Seaside, she teaches courses in journalism, radio broadcasting, and mass media. She joined the Seaside staff in 2007. Elaine is an avid reader who enjoys everything from the classics to Stephen King. She lives in Seagrove with her husband, Dan, their son, Chandler, and the best dog in the world, Lucky Beans.

EMAIL ELAINE PARRETT

Kim Gordon :: Gardening and Our Environment

Kim Gordon received her B.A. in French at Hollins University, and her J.D. from Vanderbilt. She practiced law in New York City and Birmingham, then taught 1st year law students at Vanderbilt. These experiences helped her to realize that she preferred to work outdoors, and that she loved teaching! She is thrilled to have Master Gardener, Snookie Parrish, join her again this year in the Garden program. In her spare time, you can find her biking, running, or tending to the garden, usually with her husband, Jeff, and two children, Chloe and Reis.

EMAIL KIM GORDON

Billie Gaffrey :: Art

Billie Gaffrey is a local artist who has lived in South Walton for 18 years. Art has been her passion since childhood which she turned into a profession when she opened Gaffrey Art gallery. After serving on the board of directors for Seaside Neighborhood School from 2004-2007, she joined the faculty and began teaching art. The art class provides projects of all mediums such as painting on recycled items from old car doors to large canvas paintings. Billie also co-heads the schools fundraiser, Via Colori which began in 1997. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her son Justin and daughter Aria. Teaching art at the school and living in such a beautiful place is something never taken for granted, she feels truly blessed to be here.

EMAIL BILLIE GAFFREY

Jim Ward :: Music

Jimmy Ward became fascinated with the guitar after seeing a man play one in a Saturday afternoon western. He recalls, "It seemed that when I found the guitar I found an old friend." His father taught him a few chords after returning from World War II. Later Jim took private lessons from Gene Davis, a fine jazz guitarist and teacher. He continued his studies under the instruction of Professor Gary Langford at the University of Florida.

Spending an extensive amount of time in Bermuda and Denver performing with an eighteen-piece salsa band called The Salsa All-Stars, he recorded with Stephen Stills, Billy Rich, and others. Jimmy became part of a band that would later be known as Leisure Mania in Key West, Florida. Jimmy performed regularly at the Jazz Cellar in Boulder, and was asked to play regularly at Sloppy Joe’s by its original owners. Thrilled by this opportunity, Mr. Ward and his fellow musicians relocated to Key West. This great group of musicians included band members from very well known artists and groups such as Spyro Gyra, the Rippingtons, Bobby Caldwell, Ricky Lee Jones, Dr. John, Michael Franks, and David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

Over the years, Mr. Ward’s singing and playing have entertained audiences in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Reno, Key West and New York. He has opened for Dave Brubeck, Jean-Luc Ponty, George Benson, Larry Graham, Dennis Hooten, Gary Burton and other notables. Today, Jimmy’s guitar and and vocal stylings rejuvenate listeners in venues throughout the southeast.

Mr. Ward began teaching for Seaside Neighborhood School in 2007. The students have enjoyed his unique style of teaching.