On Board With Rosanne Wood

On Board With Rosanne Wood Strong for Our Children
RosanneWood.com Rosanne Wood was elected to the Leon County School Board, for District 2, in 2016.

Rosanne is recognized as one of Florida’s pioneer educational innovators. In 1974, Rosanne was one of the founding teachers of SAIL (School for Arts and Innovative Learning), and she became principal of that school in 1978 at the age of 27. Rosanne continued as principal of SAIL for 32 years. Under Rosanne’s leadership, SAIL received national and state recognition for groundbreaking work with stud

ents whose interests and talents were not met in traditional public schools. In 2010, the College Board recognized SAIL as one of six best schools in the nation for “Innovation in the Arts”. Rosanne retired from SAIL in December 2010, the same year SAIL earned an “A” grade, with a 94% graduation rate, as well as the highest science scores and reading gains in Leon County high schools. Rosanne’s other accomplishments include:

• President of the Leon County Principals’ Association (1988 and 1995)
• State President of the Florida Association of Alternative School Educators (1989-91)
• "Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership" by the Commissioner of Education (1990)
• “Woman of Courage and Vision” by Tallahassee Community College (2001)
• Leon County Administrator of the Year (2010)
• FSU College of Education “Distinguished K-12 Educator” alumni award (2011)
• One of five “Trailblazers” by the Oasis Center for Women and Girls (2013)
• Keynote speaker at the International Conference for Invitational Educators in Orlando, Florida. Her topic was, “Climate Change: Creating public school environments that foster creativity, honor every student, and eliminate bullying” (September 2013)
• Panelist at the National Public Radio/TV American Graduate Town Hall on reducing dropouts and increasing options for high school graduation (October 2013)
• Citizens Editorial Board for the Tallahassee Democrat (2012)
• Currently serves as Chair of the Executive Board of Directors for Council on Cultural Arts (COCA)

Rosanne was born and raised in Belle Glade Florida. She moved to Tallahassee in 1970 to attend FSU and has never left. Rosanne has been married to Pete Kreis for 27 years and together, they have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Exposing children to art at very early ages can ignite a spark that lasts a lifetime ✨️So glad it worked for this little...
09/01/2026

Exposing children to art at very early ages can ignite a spark that lasts a lifetime ✨️So glad it worked for this little one😍

The Chain of Parks Art Festival is organized by a dedicated volunteer committee alongside the staff at LeMoyne Arts. Get to know our team, starting with our Festival Director, Powell K. Kreis 🎨

Q: What sparked your love for the arts?
A: My mom noticed my natural pull toward art early on and encouraged me to experiment—from drawing on restaurant placemats to crafts at home. She exposed me to many art museums during our travels and made sure I had access to lots of art classes and summer camps. That early exposure inspired me to take every art class I could, earn a BFA in Fine Art, and build a career in fashion design and the fine arts.

Q: Do you still create today?
A: When I can! I love making jewelry and painting gifts for loved ones, and right now I’m having so much fun painting a mural in my baby’s nursery.

Q: What does the Festival mean to you?
A: Managing the Festival is an incredible honor. Many people are discouraged from pursuing creative careers, so helping artists showcase their talent and build sustainable livelihoods is deeply rewarding. I also love watching kids discover their own creative spark! To me, art isn't a luxury—it’s as essential as water or oxygen. Being immersed in creativity feeds my soul and shapes how I experience the world. It’s a universal language.

👇 Your turn: What story or moment first made the arts important to YOU? Share in the comments!
🗓️ Save the Date: 27th Annual Chain of Parks Art Festival | April 17 & 18, 2027
🧑‍🎨 Calling Artists: Applications are open now through October 31! Link in bio to apply.

09/01/2026

Thank you, Delaitre Holinger and Jackie Perkins, for bringing these important stories to life!

Dr. Marcus Nicolas works tirelessly to make sure ALL of our students have the best shot at a bright and successful futur...
08/09/2026

Dr. Marcus Nicolas works tirelessly to make sure ALL of our students have the best shot at a bright and successful future.
I support him wholeheartedly.

Our first summer graduation ceremony was a big hit for seniors who persevered and received their standard high school di...
07/17/2026

Our first summer graduation ceremony was a big hit for seniors who persevered and received their standard high school diploma this summer. I was proud to stand with my colleagues Darryl Jones, Marcus Nicolas for Leon County School Board, Superintendent Rocky Hanna and the principals from Godby, Leon , Lincoln and James S. Rickards High School. Way to go graduates!
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/education/2026/07/16/leon-county-schools-hosts-first-summer-graduation/90941751007/

Looking forward to this great show tonight!
06/26/2026

Looking forward to this great show tonight!

My comments from May 26 School Board meeting regarding millage increase.
06/07/2026

My comments from May 26 School Board meeting regarding millage increase.

Rosanne Wood advocates for a vital millage increase to raise teache...

"Rosanne Wood contended that the board has already “cut to the bone”. She noted that Leon County is competing with Georg...
06/03/2026

"Rosanne Wood contended that the board has already “cut to the bone”. She noted that Leon County is competing with Georgia, where teachers often make significantly more, and with 29 other Florida counties that have already passed similar millage increases. Wood stated that to find equivalent funding without the tax, the district would have to close approximately 26 neighborhood schools, which she called “pillars of our communities”.

I stand behind my vote- now it's up to the community to decide if they are willing to invest in our public school teachers and staff.

In a 4-1 decision on Tuesday, May 26, the Leon County School Board voted to move forward with a property tax millage referendum, clearing the...

So proud of the opportunities Leon County Schools provides our students 👏
05/23/2026

So proud of the opportunities Leon County Schools provides our students 👏

Today, we celebrate the final two graduations of the year with Leon and Godby High Schools.

We are incredibly proud of the more than 2,170 graduates in the Class of 2026 who have earned more than $19 million in scholarship offers.

Leon County Schools continues to thrive, and we cannot wait to see the bright futures ahead for the Class of 2026. Congratulations, graduates!

05/23/2026
These are CRUCIAL budget priorities for the Florida Legislature. Please call or email today.
05/22/2026

These are CRUCIAL budget priorities for the Florida Legislature. Please call or email today.

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Belle Glade, FL

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