DoDEA

PEACHTREE CITY, GA — August 16, 2011 — Dr. Linda Curtis, Senior Civilian and Area Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) and Department of Defense Dependents Schools, Cuba, (DoDDS-Cuba) announced today that Dr. Djuna Underwood has been named principal of Kessler Elementary School, at Fort Stewart, Ga., in the South Carolina/Fort Stewart/DoDDS-Cuba District.

Underwood most recently served at Sollars Elementary School in Misawa, Japan, as an assistant principal. She began her teaching career, in 1992, in the Fort Knox community schools which are now a part of the DDESS Kentucky District. In 1997 she went to DoDDS-Pacific as a third grade teacher at Yokota East Elementary School, Yokota AFB, Japan.  In 1998, she moved to Yokota West Elementary School as a guidance counselor. Underwood became an administrator in 2008 when she took over as assistant principal at Sollars.

"Dr. Underwood's experience and knowledge of continuous improvement and research-based best practices will be instrumental in continuing the outstanding progress Kessler Elementary School's faculty and staff have already made,"  said Dr. Samantha Ingram, South Carolina/Fort Stewart/DoDDS-Cuba District Superintendent.  "We are excited to have her as a member of our team!"

Underwood earned her Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and her teaching credentials from the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and her Master's Degree in Education (School Counseling) from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. She earned her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum Leadership from Argosy University in Sarasota, Fla., in 2008.  Underwood grew up in a military family as one of six girls and three boys.  Five of those siblings are either serving or have served in the United States military.  Her son, who resides in Florida, is a DoDEA graduate.