Hello! My name is James Martin, and I am passionate about education and helping students reach their full potential. I graduated from The University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education. I later earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education, which further strengthened my commitment to supporting students, teachers, and school communities.
Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to creating positive learning experiences and building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues. I believe that every child can succeed when they are supported, encouraged, and challenged to do their best.
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends. Some of my favorite activities include fishing, boating, and relaxing at the beach. I am also a lifelong University of Florida Gators football fan and enjoy attending games and cheering on the Gators whenever I can.
My daughter, Addison, is 11 years old and recently started middle school. Watching her grow, learn, and take on new challenges has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Being a parent gives me an even deeper appreciation for the important partnership between schools and families in helping children succeed.
I look forward to working together to support the success and growth of every student.
Student Services Manager (Dean)
Hello! My name is Kelly Brown and I am the Student Success Manager at Harbour View Elementary. I began my role here last March, and I absolutely love it! My husband and I are Chicago transplants and are so grateful to be new Florida residents.
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Purdue University, my Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Olivet Nazarene University, and I completed CTEL (Center for Transformative Education) program at Notre Dame University.
Throughout the course of my career in education, I have served as a teacher, team leader, testing coordinator, principal and Director of Schools. All of these experiences have prepared me for my work at Harbour View.
When I am not working, I am a mom to two grown daughters, a Mimi to my first grandson, and dog mom to The Skipper!
It is my pleasure to serve this community and your children; please reach out any time I can be of assistance.
Hello! My name is Vera Light and I am excited to be entering another year at Harbour View Elementary as the School Counselor. I earned my Master’s degree in School Counseling through the University of Central Florida Counselor Education program. Through this program, I was able to gain many experiences that have bolstered my counseling skills; in turn, allowing me to better serve the students that I work with. As someone who grew up in Marion County, I strive to give back to the community that helped shape me into the person I am today. I also, of course, look forward to working with you and your child! My goal is for our students to reach optimal development by supporting the fulfillment of their social, emotional, educational, and vocational needs. Please let me know if you have any questions about my role in the school or the services that I offer. Communication and collaboration are of the utmost importance in the success of our students. When I am not working, I can often be found on adventures with my husband. I find education to be an adventure as well, so thank you for joining Harbour View for this journey.
I have been a School Counselor in Marion County for close to 20 years. I am originally from NYC and was fortunate to spend 7 of my childhood years in Australia. I have lived in Michigan, Memphis, Atlanta, and have spent the last twenty-five years in Florida. Kennesaw State University is my alma mater for my Bachelors in Psychology and I earned my Masters’ degree in Counseling from Webster University. I am delighted to be entering my third year as a Harbour View Elementary School Counselor. Most of my twenty years as a counselor has been spent with middle schoolers navigating the ups and downs of adolescence. To put it mildly, working with elementary school children has been quite the change... a change that has me looking forward to each day as they fill my days with laughter, smiles, and hugs.