Brevard County School Board Approves New Three Cabinet Members
By Space Coast Daily // January 26, 2017
Rachad Wilson new principal at Cocoa High
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The School Board of Brevard County has selected three new members, for current vacant positions, to join Superintendent Desmond Blackburn’s cabinet.
These positions include the assistant superintendent of government and community relations, assistant superintendent of secondary leading and learning and assistant superintendent/chief information officer.
The new assistant superintendent of government and community relations, Matt Reed, comes to the district with over 26 years of experience in communications and public relations. Most recently, he was Florida Today’s award-winning editorial page editor, public-interest columnist and TV-program host.
He has been at the paper since 2001 following stints at smaller papers throughout the state.
He is also an adjunct professor at Florida Tech. Reed, 49, and his wife Bridget, a peer mentor teacher in BPS’ professional development department, live in Satellite Beach.
Both of his children graduated from Satellite High where the entire family was involved in sports and volunteering.
“I’m excited to be making this plunge into public service.”
“The students, faculty and staff in Brevard Public Schools have a great story to tell about excellence and integrity, and I’m honored that Dr. Blackburn picked me to help them do that,” Reed said.
Having served as an administrator in the BPS system since 2000, Stephanie Soliven, Ed.D., former principal of Cocoa High, will now serve as the district’s new assistant superintendent of secondary leading and learning.
Soliven had been at Cocoa High for over 10 years. Prior to that, she was at Southwest Middle in Palm Bay.
Soliven, 49, and her husband, Michael, a teacher at Melbourne High, live in Melbourne with their daughter, Abigail, a ninth grade student at Melbourne High.
The couple’s eldest daughter, Sarah, will graduate from West Point this year.
“I look forward to working with principals, district staff, and community members to enhance opportunities for all students in Brevard’s secondary schools.”
“The recent district reorganization has created a climate where innovation is valued and all team members are expected to contribute to the development and support of our programs,” Soliven said.
“I am excited about connecting and interacting with outstanding practitioners throughout the district to elevate all school programs.”
Stepping into the role of chief information officer, Russell Cheatham, who has been with the district since 2002, will lead the team of education technology professionals.
Cheatham, most recently the director of management information systems, has had many jobs within the educational technology department.
He began his career with the City of Cocoa Beach. Cheatham, 38, and his wife, Sarah, live in Melbourne with their two sons.
“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to collaboratively cultivate the technology vision for Brevard Public Schools,” he said.
“I look forward to engaging our stakeholders to ensure that we are making strategic and responsible technical decisions that are so key to contributing to Brevard’s success.”
“I am so excited to welcome these exceptional individuals to the BPS leadership team,” said Blackburn.
“I have no doubt that their professional experiences and expertise will contribute to setting excellence as the standard for the district.”
Soliven and Cheatham will begin work Wednesday, and Reed’s first day will be January 30.
Rachad Wilson, former principal at Endeavour Elementary in Cocoa, will replace Soliven as principal at Cocoa High.
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