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Leadership

Mrs. Irby

Ms. Amanda Irby
Principal

It is an honor to continue serving as the principal of Memorial Elementary School for the upcoming school year. I am excited to begin another year of partnering with our students, families, faculty, staff, and community to provide an exceptional educational experience for every child.

This year marks my twenty-fourth year in DeSoto County Schools and my tenth year serving as the principal at Memorial Elementary School. As a proud graduate of DeSoto County High School, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that helped shape my own educational journey. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Warner Southern University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Throughout my career, I have been privileged to serve in a variety of instructional and leadership roles, including classroom teacher, instructional District coach, and assistant principal at DeSoto County High School, West Elementary School, and Memorial Elementary School. These diverse experiences have provided me with a strong foundation in instructional leadership, school improvement, and student achievement. Although my responsibilities have evolved over the years, I remain a teacher at heart. My ten years as a classroom teacher in kindergarten, first grade, and fourth grade continue to influence my leadership philosophy and my commitment to supporting both students and educators.

Outside of school, I am blessed to share life with my husband and our three children. Our oldest daughter, Layna, is a senior at Florida State University. Our daughter, Julianne, is a junior at DeSoto County High School, and our son, Bryce, attends DeSoto Middle School. As a family, we enjoy spending our weekends supporting our children at their volleyball and baseball competitions.

It is a privilege to lead the exceptional faculty and staff of Memorial Elementary School. Together, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where every student is challenged, encouraged, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential to student success, and we value the trust our families place in us each day.

I look forward to another successful school year as we continue working together to inspire excellence, celebrate achievement, and ensure every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your child's educational journey.

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Mrs. Mcgill

Ms. Sally McGill-Kreft
Assistant Principal

I am excited to begin my sixth year as Assistant Principal at Memorial Elementary School. I have been a member of the DeSoto County Public Schools family since 1999, when I began my career teaching seventh-grade science at DeSoto Middle School. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with learners at every stage of their educational journey, from Pre-K through adult education, which has given me a unique perspective on the importance of supporting students at every age.

As I begin my 28th year in education, I reflect on the many opportunities I have had to serve the students and families of DeSoto County. Before joining Memorial Elementary, I spent many years teaching middle school science and mathematics at DeSoto Middle School and later served as Dean of Students. My educational journey has also included serving as High School Science Instructional Coach, Lead Educator at the DJJ facility at Spring Lake, Administrator of the DeSoto Alternative Program, and Administrator of DeSoto Secondary School Education. Each of these experiences has strengthened my commitment to supporting students, empowering teachers, and building strong relationships with families.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida Southern College and later completed my Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration through Trident University. My educational experiences have provided a strong foundation for my work as an instructional leader and continue to inspire my commitment to lifelong learning.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and my three children. Two of my children are proud graduates of DeSoto County High School, and my youngest will be entering her sophomore year this fall. Whenever I have free time, I enjoy traveling to the Dominican Republic to spend time with my husband's family and curling up with a good book.

I am excited to welcome our students and families back for another wonderful school year. It is truly an honor to be part of the Memorial Elementary family, and I look forward to another year of learning, growth, and celebrating the success of every student.