Lisa Mehr - Principal

Dear Gilchrist Community,

I am truly honored and excited to introduce myself as the new principal of Gilchrist Elementary School. Rejoining this wonderful school and becoming part of such a dedicated and vibrant community is incredibly exciting! I was fortunate to be a Gilchrist parent (three girls several years ago).  It was a wonderful experience for my family and I hope to help cultivate the same love for Gilchrist for other families.

I have been working in education for over 30 years. I was a teacher for twelve years prior to entering into administration. I have been in administration for 19 years – where I’ve learned how crucial it is to create environments where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered. My commitment to fostering student success has always been at the heart of my work, and I look forward to continuing this mission at Gilchrist.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Gilchrist family. I am excited to get to know each of you and to work together to create an environment where every child can thrive.

Here’s to a great year ahead!

Go Grizzlies!

Dr. Lisa Mehr

LaToya Montgomery - Assistant Principal

With over 21 years in education, Ms. Montgomery brings a wealth of experience, leadership and heart to our school community. She is entering her 11th year as assistant principal with Leon County Schools and is excited to join the Gilchrist family!

She holds an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction an  MBA, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics reflecting her strong foundation in analytical skills, organizational management and academic leadership.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Montgomery has been dedicated to creating positive learning environments, supporting both student achievement and teacher growth.  Her passions lies in fostering a culture of excellence, equity, and continuous improvement within the school community.

Outside of her professional role, Ms. Montgomery is a mother of two daughters, Camille and Chloe Montgomery. She brings the same care and commitment to her school family as she does her own, cultivating a family of lifelong learners.

Mrs. Dawn Wilder has been an educator for 20 years.  She taught elementary school for 13 years and has been an administrator for the last seven years. Her leadership experience has been in both elementary and secondary schools.  Mrs. Wilder was a teacher for many years at Gilchrist and is thrilled to come back “home” as an administrator.  She has worked at various schools in Leon County and brings a lot of knowledge back to her Grizzly family.  She has always had a passion to teach children, and now shares that passion with teachers by guiding and supporting them as their assistant principal. 

Mrs. Wilder began her career at the Florida Department of Education where she worked for five years before attending college.  She then graduated with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University.  After teaching for many years, she returned to college and became certified in Educational Leadership from Florida A & M University. She is married to Brian and they have three wonderful children, two dogs, and a cat.  In her personal life, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach, and watching FSU football and baseball games.