Dr. Jessica Rafidi

Bio

This is my seventh year at Southeastern University. I currently serve as an Assistant Professor in the College of Education and Coordinator of the Educational Leadership program. I am passionate about my family, missions, education, literacy and instructional leadership. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I cheer for the Pirates, Penguins, and obviously the Steelers! While in Pittsburgh, I attended Clarion University and studied Elementary Education.

My family moved to Sarasota, Florida, in 1990 and I started teaching at The Tabernacle Christian School. I taught there for two years before being offered the opportunity to serve as a short-term missionary at Jerusalem School in the West Bank. After my assignment, I returned to the U.S., and continued to serve the Lord through teaching, learning, and home schooling. I completed my MS degree in Educational Leadership in 2007, and then my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management in 2012.

While serving overseas, I met my husband George. We are married 31 years and serve as Assemblies of God Home Missionaries since 1996. George serves the General Presbytery as the President of the A/G Arabic Fellowship. I’m involved in my church, Arab Outreach Ministries, where I serve as the Pastor’s wife. Over the years we have planted churches in Jacksonville and Tampa, and home fellowships in Daytona, Miami, and Orlando. We have three grown children who are all teachers, and six perfect grandbabies who we adore!

My last administrative position was at Charter Schools USA where I served as one of the founding administrators of a K-8 school in Ocoee, FL. Leading the implementation of data driven instruction that improved student learning outcomes through the cycle of teaching, assessment, and reporting allowed me to experience the pleasure of watching children, many of whom were grade levels below proficiency, make significant, consistent, sustainable academic growth.