Hi!  My name is Samantha Bodiford.  I am the media specialist at Ruediger Elementary.  My journey at Ruediger began in January of 2019.  Before coming to Ruediger, I interchangeably taught 2nd grade for 7 years and 4th grade for 7 years at Kate Sullivan where I also completed my internship in 5th grade. I come from a family of teachers.  My mother taught special education at various schools, but spent several years at Silver Sands School in Fort Walton Beach, FL, before retiring.  My mom makes me very proud in that she has been given the honor of being her school's Teacher of the Year twice.  She has led many professional development seminars throughout the state on different ways to communicate with nonverbal students using special devices that she helped design.  My dad is a retired SMSGT in the Air Force.  His duties included airplane mechanics as well as being an instructor for airplane mechanics.  He is also a Vietnam War Veteran.  My grandmother was a retired Marine.  My brother is a manager at a restaurant in Destin, FL and his wife is a Neonatal Critical Care Nurse Practitioner.  

It is just my daughter and I since my husband passed away over 13 years ago.  Our daughter, Elizabeth, is 18 and is in her freshman year at the University of Alabama.  She is majoring in psychology and plans to be a child therapist.  She has played soccer since she was 4, and continues to play for her sorority's team.  When she was in middle school, she competed in cheerleading as well.  

I continue to feel so honored to have the opportunity to work with such amazing colleagues and such incredible children.  Ruediger has been such a wonderful opportunity for me.  I have enjoyed forming relationships with all the students here, and am proud to be a part of the Roadrunner family!

I hope you will take advantage of all the opportunities our school has to offer your child in events, resources, and education by getting involved either from coming out to support our school at events or even volunteering in the classroom or library.  Your child's success is the biggest investment you will make, and we do not take our responsibilities lightly in our role in helping guide them to achieve all of their academic and social goals while they continue to grow with us at Ruediger!