Ilea Faircloth is the Principal of Hiland Park Elementary with Bay District Schools.This is Ilea’s 22nd year in education and she’s proud to be serving as the principal of the school she attended in elementary school. During her tenure with the public school system, Ilea has served as a paraprofessional, a substitute, an elementary school teacher, a Literacy Coach, a Math Staff Training Specialist, an Instructional Specialist for School Improvement, and an Assistant Administrator. Serving as a principal is her “dream job” and leading the school she once attended as a child is truly an honor. During the 2018-2019 school year, Ilea was named Principal of Springfield Elementary until Hurricane Michael came and destroyed the school. She was temporarily assigned over incoming donations and later FEMA for BDS prior to being named Principal of Hiland Park. Ilea has a passion for doing what’s best for kids and is thankful to be back in the school setting. Ilea has also been serving as an Adjunct Professor and University Supervisor for Florida State University- Panama City since 2021.

It is a passion of Ilea to serve in her community. She served on the Executive Board of the Bay County Reading Association in the capacity of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Through BCRA, Ilea had the opportunity to plan and implement the annual Reading by the Bay Language Arts Classic that brings professional development to Bay County and surrounding counties with an average of 400 attendees. She has been Past-President/Past Vice-President of Alpha Delta Kappa TAU Chapter Educational Sorority which serves to give back to the educational community at both the local, state, and national levels.