Administration

Cindy Gates, Principal

Cindy Gates has been the Principal of Choctawhatchee High School since February, 2003. She was born and raised in Arkansas and has called Fort Walton Beach her home since 1990. After graduating from Conway High School, Conway, Arkansas, in 1977, she attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education. Cindy also holds a Master's of Science Degree in Psychology and Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas. She continued her education at the University of West Florida where she earned her certification in Educational Leadership. A long time educator in Arkansas and Florida, Cindy spent three years teaching K-12 ESE students, three years teaching second through fourth grade elementary students, three years teaching high school students, and she also served as a guidance counselor for seven years. Mrs. Gates was named the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Choctawhatchee High School in 1998, and spent one year in the Okaloosa County School District Administration office as the Specialist for Secondary Education, before returning to Choctawhatchee High School in 2003 to become the proud principal and leader of one of the top schools in the state of Florida.

In 2005, Cindy was recognized as a Gold Medallion Finalist for the Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award for Innovative Leadership in the State of Florida. She has served the past three years as the only high school administrator on the College Board National Guidance and Admissions Council.

She is the architect of the national award winning Embry Riddle Aeronautical University/ Choctawhatchee Aerospace Institute. As a recognized leader in her field, she serves as a consultant for The College Board and works with other administrators from all over the USA to help build strong college and career readiness programs at their schools.

Cindy believes in family and community involvement and is an active member of Shalimar United Methodist Church, a member of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, she serves on the Board of Trustees for Opportunity Place, and The Board of Trustees for Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. She is active in the Association for Curriculum and Development, the National Association of Secondary Principals, and the Phi Delta Kappa National Education Sorority.

Cindy is married to Mike Gates, and together they have five beautiful children and two grandchildren: Corey, 31, and wife Erin and son Warner; Callie, 26, and husband Jeremiah and son Bode; Lynnlee, 22; Sarah, 19; and Mary, 16.

As a lifelong learner and leader, she continues to set excellence as the standard for all students of Choctawhatchee High School.

Lee Hale, Assistant Principal for Instruction

Lee Hale is the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction. He is a lifelong native of the beautiful Fort Walton Beach area. After graduating from Choctawhatchee High School in 1989, he attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Masters of Education degree in Global Leadership and Administration from Jones International University and a Specialist of Education degree from the University of West Florida where he is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in curriculum and instructional technology. A National Board Certified Teacher in Career and Technical Education, Lee spent 12 years on the teaching faculty at Choctawhatchee before joining the Leadership Team in January of 2007. In 2010, he was recognized as the Florida State Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Lee is a former football and baseball player and coach at Choctaw and is the current "Voice of the Indians" in Joe Etheredge Stadium as well as the "ringmaster" of our world-renowned pep rallies. Lee has been married to his beautiful wife, Gretchen, for 16 years and has two very active and involved children, Brett, age 14 and Eve, age 10.

Rick Soria, Assistant Principal for Attendance /Aviation /Engineering

Rick Soria is the assistant principal for attendance, aviation and engineering. He is a retired Air Force chief with almost 24 years of military service who hails from San Antonio, Texas. Rick earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Resource Management (summa) from Troy State University, Florida region and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership (all levels, summa) from the University of West Florida. Rick spent 11 years on the Choctawhatchee faculty as an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) Aerospace Science Instructor and a year as aviation coordinator and adjunct professor in the national award winning Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University/Choctawhatchee Aerospace Institute, before joining the Leadership Team in May of 2006. He was selected Air Force Association Aerospace Education Foundation (State of Florida) Aerospace Teacher of the Year in 2005, the National Conference on Aviation and Space Education A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Teacher of the Year in 2006, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation Educator Achievement Award in 2007, and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (in association with NASA and the Space Foundation) Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, 2009. A recognized science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) advocate, he is the architect of and Co-chair the Okaloosa County School District Engineers For America STEM Initiative. In July 2010, EFA was recognized by earning the STEMflorida Improved Student Outcomes Award. When Rick is not at work, he and his wife Jo Ann are active in supporting the performing arts career of their autistic son, Reid.

Greg Thomas, Athletic Director – Head Football Coach

Greg Thomas is the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Choctawhatchee High School. After graduating from High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1982 he attended East Carolina University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education. He also holds a Master's Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from East Carolina University. Greg spent 6 years at Washington High School, North Carolina, 3 years at Fort Mill High School, South Carolina, and 8 years at Rose High School, North Carolina, where his teams won four State Championships. In February of 2008 he joined the Choctaw Staff. Coach Thomas has been a Head Football coach for the past 18 years of his 23 year career in education. Besides coaching football, Greg has also been a head coach in Wrestling, Track and has assisted in Baseball. Greg is married to his beautiful wife Wendy and has three children, Cori, age 18, Laci, age 7, and Gregory, 4 months.

Andy Snaith, Dean of Students

Beginning his fourth year as Dean of Students, Mr. Snaith has been associated with Choctawhatchee High School for 25 years. Andy graduated from Choctawhatchee in 1979 and returned as a teacher/coach in 1990. He started in the Physical Education department and has taught a variety of courses in the Science Department for 18 years. Some of his major duties as Dean are oversight of facilities and student discipline. He received his Bachelor and Master's Degrees from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and has completed course work toward a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of West Florida. His coaching duties at Choctaw have included football, baseball and golf. Andy has been married to the former Tam Huggins (Choctawhatchee graduate, 1979) for 22 wonderful years. They have one daughter, Holley, age 17 who participates in the ladies' golf program here at Choctaw.

Tom Henry, School Resource Officer

Tom Henry is the School Resource Officer assigned to Choctawhatchee Senior High School and is employed with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. He moved to the Fort Walton Beach area from Anchorage, Alaska in 1978 due to his father being stationed at Hurlburt Air Force Base. After graduating from Choctawhatchee High School in 1988, he attended Okaloosa-Walton Community College where he earned an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice Technology as well as his certification to become a Law Enforcement Officer through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Criminal Justice Standards and Training. During his tenure with the Sheriff's Office he has become certified as an Instructor, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Traffic Homicide Investigator, and Crime Scene Investigator. He became a School Resource Officer in 2006 and joined Choctawhatchee High School in the fall of 2007. During this time, he has also served as the Senior Advisor for the Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Explorer program, which he had been a part of as a teenager. Tom has been married to his bride, Sherri, since 1998 and they have three beautiful and fun loving children, Brianna, age 17, Colton, age 11 and Jacob, age 7.

Kittye Keck – Director of Student Services

Mary Kate "Kittye" Keck is the director of student services and testing coordinator. She moved to Fort Walton Beach from Macon, Georgia, at the age of five, and attended Kenwood Elementary, Pryor Junior High, and graduated from Choctawhatchee High School in 1979. Kittye received her undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida in 1983, and taught 8th grade English at Ruckel Middle School for seven years, and 9th and 10th grade English and yearbook at Choctaw for five years before completing a master's degree in counseling and psychology from Troy University in 2003, at which time she began her counseling career at Choctaw. Kittye is married to John Keck, a U.S. History teacher at Pryor Middle School. She has three children, Katie, Ross, and Will Kitchens, and three stepchildren, Jamee, Allison, and Daniel Keck.