Lee Ann Rikard

Professional Responsibilities
Lee Ann has recently joined the staff of EDO Professional Services, a global technology reach corporation who specializes in application of business knowledge and information technology. EDO Professional Services Division (EDO PSD) strives to create award winning products and services in order to meet customers' business needs. Customer solutions range from comprehensive knowledge repositories and electronic commerce products to web-enabled, paperless business support systems and virtual learning tools. Through partnership with EDO, Lee Ann intends to plan a key role in the formulation, development, and implementation of instructional design. Lee Ann's philosophy is centered upon a belief that a challenging, enriching education should be readily available to all learners in order to promote lifelong learning.

Professional Activities and History
Prior to joining EDO PSD, Lee Ann served as Assistant Principal for Instruction for Indian River High Schools, one of the Chesapeake Public Schools, from 1996 to July 2002. In that position, Lee Ann was primarily responsible for coordination and analysis of Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments (SOL) and assimilation, monitoring, and adaptation of the instructional schedule for secondary courses. Lee Ann's administrative experiences include management and evaluation of teachers; interviewing and hiring of personnel; service as liaison between school and community; director of on-site staff development; and development and regulation of programs for students with disabilities, advanced placement programs, and instructional technology. Lee Ann implemented a school-to home communications system for Indian River High School and the district. She also implemented design and production of student identification badges, facilitated school-wide integration of technology into instruction and design of methodology for teacher technology certification, and assisted in implementation of utilization of distance learning efforts for Chesapeake Public Schools. During Lee Ann's tenure at Indian River, the school faculty and staff revamped the instructional program to meet the rigorous demands of SOL testing and accountability. Indian River High School was recently fully accredited, one of four high schools in Chesapeake to earn Virginia's highest academic rating.

Lee Ann began teaching high school students in June 1986, when she taught chemistry in summer school to students at Langley High School, in McLean, Virginia. She followed that experience with ten more years of teaching, moving from northern Virginia to Chesapeake in 1987. At Oscar Smith High School, another of the Chesapeake Public Schools, Lee Ann taught Physics, Advanced Placement Physics, Chemistry, Consumer Chemistry, Physics for Technology, and Biology. She served as Lead Teacher for Staff Development purposes, and also designed and supervised the development of the school yearbook utilizing desktop publishing. While at Oscar Smith High School, Lee Ann designed and implemented Parent Center/Parent Programs, and coordinated a PAWS (Parents are Welcome at School) campaign to promote school to home communication. She received her M.A. in Urban Education from Norfolk State University in 1993.

Prior to her teaching experiences, Lee Ann worked as a Clinical Chemist in the Charleston, South Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, and Vienna, Virginia medical arenas.

Personal Notes
Born in Pensacola, Florida, Lee Ann spent the majority of her youth in Jackson, Mississippi. She graduated from University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 1973. While at Ole Miss, she met and married Rick Rikard, and they happily celebrate almost 28 years of marriage. Rick's career in the US Navy (Captain, currently Commanding Officer of USS VELLA GULF, CG 72) has broadened and enriched Lee Ann's horizons both geographically and personally. Lee Ann and Rick have lived in Newport, Rhode Island; Charleston, South Carolina; Monterey, California; Seattle, Washington; Jacksonville, Florida; Washington, D.C.; and now reside in the Hampton Roads area. Lee Ann has a daughter, Erin, who is currently stationed as Gunnery Officer, USS HOPPER DDG 70. Her son, Kyle, works and lives in the Hampton Roads area. Kyle and his lovely wife Lauren (Kennedy) recently provided Lee Ann with her first grandchild, Kelly Nicole.

In her limited free time, Lee Ann thoroughly enjoys celebrating life with her family and friends. LeeAnn's immediate circle would not be complete, however, without mention of her basset hound (Sir Isaac Newton), and his two feline companions, Ozone and Cajun. To contact Lee Ann, email her at lrikard@edo-services.com, or call (757) 424-1004.