A Bit About Me

If you are new to our school or to this blog, allow me to introduce myself.  I'm Donna Leadford and this is the blog established to share with parents and the community all of the exciting things God is doing at our North Campus of Prestonwood Christian Academy. 

My Principal's Pen Blog is a way of sharing with our PCA North families the terrific learning that happens each and every day at our school.  Our school's website gives a more comprehensive look at our curriculum.  Additionally, parents will receive newsletters and other correspondence with time sensitive updates.  This allows me other venues to share the nuts and bolts of our school, and lets this blog just be PURE FUN!  I've often said that writing a blog has been one best things I've done as a principal.  It gets me OUT of my office and into the classroom.  I plan to concentrate on those sweet learning moments that will happen all the time at our school.  

On occasion, I will write about my family or some personal experience - especially when I feel it will benefit young families.  Trust me, if there is a mistake to be made, I've probably already been there - done that!   So, this page will give you a bit of my background, helping my stories and experiences make a bit more sense

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND 

It is my absolute joy to be the inaugural principal at Prestonwood Christian Academy's North campus. I am currently beginning my 31st year as an educator!  My career spans several schools and a variety of experiences.  I spent sixteen years in the public school setting, both as a teacher in Bonham, Texas and as a teacher and administrator in Allen, Texas where I lived and raised my two sons.  I LOVED teaching and, even as an administrator, staying connected to the classroom and students is my passion.  Through my career, I have taught every grade level!  My classroom experience includes PreK, third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, seventh grade, and eighth grade.  However, during the seven years I taught gifted and talented education, I had students from kindergarten through sixth grade.  Essentially, I have been the teacher of every grade level of students kindergarten through eighth grade!  Definitely, this variety of experience has benefited me as I moved into elementary school administration.

The past fourteen years have been in Christian Education - my true passion!  I began my time in Christian school right here at PCA!  I was the Lower School Principal from 2000-2005, during the early days of Prestonwood Christian Academy.  From 2005-June of 2014, I was the elementary principal of Oklahoma Christian Academy in Edmond, OK.  I absolutely love that school and my time in Oklahoma.  However, when I received a phone call asking if I would return to PCA to assist in the launch of the new North Campus, it didn't take long for God to show me His plan!  I'm thrilled to be back "home" - at a school I love, surrounded my friends I have known for years.  Also, how fun to return home and meet new faces and see all God has done in the past nine years. 

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from East Texas Baptist University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A & M - Commerce. I have also done post-graduate work at both Texas A & M and Texas Women’s University (obtaining endorsements in Early Childhood Education and Gifted and Talented Education). I love going to school and would be a professional student if I could afford it! 

BACK IN THE DAY - MY CHILDHOOD BACKGROUND

I'm basically a small town girl from Bonham, Texas.  It still feels like "going home" when I cross the Fannin County line and see lots of round bales of hay and beautiful countryside.  It is great to be back in Texas and see the bales of hay, fields of wheat, maze, and corn.  I take a deep breath and thank God for the beauty of His creation.  

I am the oldest of three siblings.  Here are a couple of pictures - one from "back in the day" and one taken more recently.    When a parent tells me their oldest child is "bossy" - I always say..."Oh...maybe not bossy; maybe they just have leadership potential!"  Ha!  I kid myself.  My brother and sister would probably still call me bossy! 




 

I grew up in a loving Christian home where the work ethic was strong.  As a child, my parents owned and operated two small convenience stores.  It was a wonderful childhood, especially since they sold Icees and I could basically help myself to those yummy frozen drinks and the bin of Brach's candy!  After leaving the grocery store business, my parents opened the business our family owns and operates today, a local BBQ restaurant called The Hickory Bar-B-Q.  I started working at their restaurant when I was fourteen.   Child labor laws apparently aren't into effect if it is a family business!  We did, and they still do, A LOT of catering.  So, hauling tables and pans of brisket seem natural to me! Seriously, I'm grateful I learned how to make change for customers before cash registers told you how much money to give back.  I'm grateful I learned how to work with the public.  I'm grateful I know what it is like to be behind the scenes washing dishes and serving others.  It has definitely helped me be a better leader - to understand that there are a lot of thankless jobs going on behind the scenes that help the whole function well. 

Here are two of my favorite pictures of all time.  The first was taken in 1998 of my parents and their six grandsons outside of the BBQ.  The second was taken this past Christmas when my nephew had the fabulous idea to recreate the picture 15 years later!

Little did we know that the above picture would be the last picture we would ever take of all six grandsons with my dad.  Daddy went to his heavenly home on July 7th.  I will probably write a blog post at some point to let you know more about my dad.  He was an amazing man - who, with my mom, prayed with me to receive Christ when I was eight years old.  He truly was one of my heroes and I am still mourning the fact I won't see him again this side of heaven.  But - oh, how precious to know he is healed from the Parkinson's Disease that so impacted his final years.  He's HOME.  

I was a total daddy's girl.  Here are a couple of pictures I love.  The fist shows me trying to be "just like him" and the second was taken a year ago.  I love the fact my dad has on one of his many Andy Griffith shirts.  He loved all things Andy, Barney, and Mayberry!  

My mama is a rock!  She was my dad's primary caregiver for the last few years of his life.  It is because of her my dad was able to stay at home during his final years.  My mom is amazing.  I can't keep up with her.  She has more energy and is a harder worker than anyone I know.  Anyone.  I'm sharing a picture of my sweet mama in her amazing backyard.  Her yard is worthy of a photo shoot no matter the season.  Again - I don't know how she does it all, but she does!  

  

MY BLENDED FAMILY

Explaining my family is always where folks’ interests lies. As I said, I raised my sons, Chad and Chris, while living in Allen, TX. After a long marriage, I found myself living life as a single parent. It wasn't the life I had planned or wanted, but God is always faithful and I was surrounded with amazing friends and family.  

Soon after Chad went away to college at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, he met the love of his life...a precious young lady named Laura.  She was an OCS graduate and while in middle school became great friends with a sweet girl named Ashley.  Chad, Laura, and Ashley were all at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee at the same time. (Are you still following me?) Long, long story….but after some matchmaking (involving Laura's mother), I began a long-distance dating relationship with Ashley’s father, Ken. Chad had actually met him first and came home telling me he had found someone he thought I should meet. I’m sure you can see the end of the story. After a year of long-distance dating, I married Ken in the spring of 2005 and moved from Texas to Oklahoma at the conclusion of the school year.  Here's the cherry on top: Not only did I fall in love with Ken, I fell in love with his daughters, Ashley and Kristen. Ken had been raising them alone and playing the role of “Mr. Mom.” The girls welcomed me into their family and I suddenly had daughters!

Our blended family:  L to R:  Chris, Chad, Me, Ken, Ashley, and Kristen.  Do you notice our officiant?  Yes...Dr. Larry Taylor, PCA Head of School, married us!  Our ceremony was in Prestonwood's Faith Chapel.  We had PCA children sing the worship songs I loved most from our elementary chapels.  Our PCA Director of Fine Arts and my friend, Joel Rutherford, sang - along with Rick Briscoe and Paul Williams.  It was definitely a family wedding - but with a PCA twist! 

Our children are all grown!  Chad has now been married to Laura for seven years.  Chad is an attorney, practicing aviation law with a firm in OKC and Laura is an incredible high school choral and humanities teacher at an Oklahoma City charter school.  Chris is a hair stylist and our resident nutrition expert.  In recent years, he has been living in New York City, working at Whole Foods, but is relocating to Austin to continue his first career as a hair stylist.  Ashley is a PreK teacher with Oklahoma City Schools.  This summer, she married Danny, a registered nurse on his way to becoming a nurse practitioner.  Kristen also lives in OKC and works at a local hospital in the dietitian's office.  Ken and I are blessed with four grown children, a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law who are all amazing adults.  They are genuinely fun to be around.  For every mama lamenting that her children are growing up too fast, I can sympathize!  However, having strong relationships with adult children has rewards and joys I can't even describe!