Ms. Stephanie El Sayed Announced as Principal for Rota MHS

Dr. Michelle Howard-Brahaney, Superintendent Europe South announces that Ms. Stephanie El Sayed has been selected as the Principal of Rota Middle High School in Rota, Spain. “Ms. El Sayed is an amazing leader who prioritizes student learning and relationships with the community. We are so pleased to have her as the principal of Rota Middle High School,” said Howard-Brahaney.

Stephanie El Sayed’s career supporting our nation’s military connected children began with the Department of Defense Education Activity in 1990, with teaching positions at Nuremberg Middle School, Erlangen Elementary School, and Bamberg Elementary School. She was very active in sponsoring and coaching school activities, to include Student Council, Multicultural Club, High School Track, Volleyball and Wrestling. She held several school-based positions, including Staff Development Coordinator, School Improvement Process Chairperson, School-Home-Community Partnership Complex Coordinator, and Human and Civil Rights Coordinator. In 1998, she was awarded Würzburg District Teacher of the Year, and as a sixth grade Math teacher, was a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Secondary Mathematics Teaching.

As a school administrator, Ms. El Sayed was an Assistant Principal at Bamberg Elementary School and Würzburg Elementary School. In 2002, she was promoted to Principal at La Maddelana Elementary/Middle School, in Sardinia. She was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Award and Medal in 2006, and remained in Italy at Aviano Middle School before returning to Germany at Heidelberg Middle School. Before leading Vicenza Middle School in 2014, as the Prima Puma, Ms. El Sayed was the Principal of Bahrain Middle-High School. Ms. El Sayed believes it is essential to promote a school environment that is student-centered and has high expectations for students, staff, parents, and community members. A safe, professional, and nurturing climate where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect is the minimum standard for an effective school.

Ms. El Sayed believes a strong literacy foundation is necessary to help ensure children are successful throughout their school years. She also believes educators must understand the students they teach in order to guide them to reach their potential. As global citizens, students must be provided with technological and collaborative skills that will further enhance their academic and social-emotional development.

Ms. El Sayed will tell you her military career began at birth as the daughter of an Army Military Policeman. She was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and she is the youngest of six children. Her military family moved about, as most do, until her mother said, “Enough is enough,” and they settled in near Fort Riley, Kansas. Ms. El Sayed graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education and earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University in Heidelberg, Germany. She has one son, who is a proud product of DoDEA schools.

Ms. El Sayed’s mantra, “Children First,” guides her decisions in her roles as a mother, educator, and leader.