Ms. Leigh DeFazio

Ms. Leigh DeFazio will be joining Spangdahlem Elementary School as the Assistant Principal.

Ms. DeFazio began her DoDEA journey as a paraeducator working one-on-one with students with special needs. Her varied career includes teaching elementary, middle, and high school, as well as special education and AVID. Her additional duties have included Installation and School Advisory Vice President, AVID Site Coordinator, Continuous School Improvement Leader, DoDEA Athletic Council, Junior Leadership Symposium, STEMposium Dean of Students, Cheerleading Coach, and Athletic Director. 

Ms. DeFazio believes in the power of creating a positive school environment for students and staff through genuine and compassionate connections. She is devoted to supporting the teachers of Spangdahlem Elementary as they provide engaging, differentiated, and meaningful educational opportunities to meet the needs of all students. 

The United States Air Force has played an important role in Ms. DeFazio’s life as a child, spouse, and parent. As an “AF Brat,” she had the amazing opportunity to grow up with a diverse group of friends and attend DoDDS schools all over the world. As an early member of the AF Key Spouse Program, Ms. DeFazio planned and implemented deployment readiness programs to support mission demands, increase morale, unit cohesion, and family readiness across the Air Force. She also served as initial cadre for the Military Child Education Coalition, an organization that partners with state leaders to establish strategic goals for military-connected children to support their academic, social, and emotional needs. 

Ms. DeFazio holds undergraduate degrees in Elementary Education and History, Master’s Degrees in Special Education and English, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. Her greatest pride is her own Air Force family. She is married to Colonel (Retired) Alex DeFazio, a former F-15E Weapons System Officer who, when not supporting her career, is an aerospace capabilities expert on the NATO Secretary General’s Staff. Together they have three amazing adult children and DoDEA graduates; their daughter, Ali, who is a communications strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union and their sons, Capt. Michael DeFazio and Lt. Dominick DeFazio, both of whom are Air Force pilots