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SUPERINTENDENT-ELECT MAIER NAMES TWO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Heidi Maier (EdD), superintendent-elect
Marion County Public Schools
SUPERINTENDENT-ELECT MAIER NAMES
TWO DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENTS
MARION COUNTY – Incoming Superintendent of Schools Heidi Maier (EdD) is announcing her appointments to the two highest positions in her administration.
Jonathan Grantham, who also holds a doctorate in education, will be the new deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Grantham began his career in 1998 as a teacher in Panama City, Fla., working in middle and high school math areas along with opening a K-12 school. He returned to college in 2004 in Tallahassee, where he served as assistant principal and principal at an elementary school that received the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award for high academic performance. Grantham later served as principal of Florida State University’s K-12 Lab School. After moving to Tampa, he became principal of a K-5 school and Roland Park K-8 school, where, despite maximum student capacity, he improved the school’s grade to an “A” and received national awards from Magnet Schools of America, Schools of Distinction, School of Excellence, and the New and Emerging Magnet School Award, given to just one school nationwide. Grantham’s most recent position was leading Turner-Bartels K-8 School in Hillsborough County, one of the largest schools of its kind anywhere. Under his leadership, the school has increased enrollment, received various awards and recognitions, and is a Microsoft® Showcase school.
Grantham’s four academic degrees all come from Florida State University: Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Specialist in Education, and Doctorate of Education. Dr. Grantham has three children.
Meantime, Craig Ham, who holds a doctorate in education, will be the new deputy superintendent of operations. Familiar as a former president of the Marion Education Association and other education-related unions, Ham served in the US Army in various assignments including Vietnam, Europe, Asia and at home. He also spent 13 years on the faculty at the US Military Academy at West Point, eventually becoming chair of the Geography and Environmental Engineering department. He also served as visiting professor of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College in Washington, DC. In 1995, after 26 years of active military service, Ham retired and began teaching in Marion County Public Schools. He co-founded the Engineering and Manufacturing Institute of Technology (EMIT) magnet program at Forest High School, teaching all social studies courses and administering the innovative, interdisciplinary approach to blending technology and advanced academics. Over nine years with EMIT, Ham coached the school’s Knowledge Bowl team to six state championships.
Ham holds a doctorate in political geography, specializing in the use of geographic information systems to analyze urban socio-economic data. He has experience in budgeting, logistics, maintenance operations, security planning, transportation systems, and emergency management. Ham is married to Vicki and has five children and 11 grandchildren.
Both appointments become effective November 22, when Maier, who won the superintendent position in the August primary, takes her oath of office at 11AM.
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