Board Members

William V. Husfelt, III

Superintendent

Bill Husfelt was elected Superintendent of Schools in November 2008. A former high school principal with both middle and high school coaching, teaching, and administrative experience, he holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida State University. Mr. Husfelt was the recipient of the 2004 and 2006 Florida Commissioner’s Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership. Believing public education to be the backbone of our free society, he is quick to give credit to the many people who guided and helped him reach his goals. The vast majority of those he credits are educators, coaches, and school administrators. He currently serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher of the Young Married Class at Hiland Park Baptist Church and has been a director on the board of Panhandle Educators Federal Credit Union since 2000. He and his wife, Theresa, have three daughters ~ Stephanie, Allison and Anna ~ who all graduated from Bay District Schools.

E-Mail: husfewv@bay.k12.fl.us

Jerry Register
District 1

Elected to the Board in 2008, Jerry Register graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of West Florida. He is also a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in Supervision and Administration. He has 16 years teaching experience at all grade levels in public education. Mr. Register was Principal of the Year in 1998 and served as an elementary school administrator for 14 years. He is owner of Painting with Principal Jerry Register, Inc. Throughout his career, he has served and is currently active in numerous civic, educational, youth and church organizations. He emphasizes his philosophy ~ “Children are our most valuable commodity. So, their interests should be at the center of every decision made by the School Board.” His best personal advice is, “The key to success is personal integrity and hard work!” Mr. Register is married to the former Mavis Faye Moseley. They are parents of two adult sons, Grant and Mark.

District 1 includes Hiland Park Elementary School, Lynn Haven Elementary School, A. Crawford Mosley High School, Mowat Middle School, New Horizons Learning Center and Tom P. Haney Technical College.

 E-Mail: regisj@bay.k12.fl.us

 School Board District 1

Ann Leonard  

District 2

Ann Leonard was elected to the BDS School Board in 2022. She is a native of Asheville, NC and has lived  in Panama City since 2012. Since 2015, she has served as the Director of Tom P Haney Technical College  following three years as the Director of Career Technical Education for Bay District Schools. Her career  in education includes serving as School Food Service Supervisor, an elementary and secondary teacher,  Beginning Teacher Coach and Assistant Principal. 

Mrs. Leonard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee and earned her  Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Her passion for Career Technical  Education comes from a deep belief that active, relevant learning keeps students engaged in school.  She actively supports the work of Bay Economic Development Alliance, Alignment Bay County (ABC), and  Career Source Gulf Coast in bringing new business to the area and providing high-wage, high-demand  employment for residents. 

She is married to Mitch Leonard and they have three daughters and two amazing grandchildren. She  loves sailing and living by the water, although she misses the mountains. She attends Holy Nativity  Episcopal Church where she has served on the Board of Trustees for Holy Nativity Episcopal School. 

“I believe with all my heart that education changes lives. We as a community have a responsibility to  provide the best educational experiences for all of our children.” ~Ann Leonard

E-Mail: leonaaa1@bay.k12.fl.us

School Board District 2

Chris Moore
District 3

Chris Moore joined the School Board in November of 2022. He is a Panama City native and a graduate of Bay District Schools (K-12th grade). Both his son and daughter are graduates of Bay District Schools (elementary, middle and High School). His passion for service on the Board comes from witnessing and experiencing numerous school districts over thirteen duty stations (U.S. Navy Veteran, 24+ years) around the country and territory of Guam, and a desire for constant improvement in Bay District education and its impact on students, families and the community as a whole. Moore is driven to do his part in helping our system for all students, as well as the teachers and administrators that make it happen.

Following his military career in the U.S. Navy (retired Captain), he returned to Panama City ten years ago and joined the team at General Dynamics IT in 2012 as the Director of Operations/Senior Program Manager/Site Lead, responsible for all facets of the business office, including rapid prototyping, fabrication shop, financial and contract management, human resources, Quality Assurance.  

Over the last ten years, he has dedicated time to give back a small part of what Bay County has given him, through volunteer work at several organizations, including:

=   Citizen's Oversight Committee for Infrastructure Surtax as Vice Chairman, Apr 2019 – to Present. 

=   Student Advisory Council, Bay High School, President, Sep 2015 - Jan 2019

=   Florida's Great Northwest Chairman, Endowment Managers, Apr 2019 -Dec 2021

=   Navy League of the United States; President, Bay County Council, Feb 2016 – to Present

=   Bay County Chamber of Commerce Board member, Jul 2015- to Present, Chairman of       the Board (2021), Military Affairs Committee Chairman (2022)

=   Bay Defense Alliance Board Member Apr 2014 – to Present

=   Business Innovations Board Member, Jan 2014 - Mar 2017

=   Boy Scouts of America, District Chairman, Lake Sands District, Gulf Coast Council, Jan        2013 - Dec 2015, recognized with the District Award of Merit (2016).               

His formal education includes:

=   Bachelor’s Degree- University of Florida (1988)

=   Master’s Degree in Public Administration- Valdosta State University (1999)

=   Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies- U.S. Naval War College              (2009)

 He is third generation career Navy from Florida and born in Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (parents stationed there with U.S. Navy) and has been a resident of Panama City, FL since 1968.  He and his wife, Tammy Moore (ne’e Nelson) of Chipley, FL have been married 27 years and have two children, son Stephen, U.S. Naval Officer and daughter, Jordan, college student.  In his spare time, he enjoys boating with his family and is an avid sports fan of all varieties.  

District 3 includes, Bay High School, Cedar Grove Elementary School, Jinks Middle School, Lucille Moore Elementary School, Northside Elementary School, Oscar Patterson Academy, Rosenwald High School, Rutherford High School, and St. Andrew School at Oakland Terrace.

 E-Mail: moorecs1@bay.k12.fl.us

School Board District 3  

Winston Chester
District 4

 Winston Chester was elected to the Board in 2020. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the University of Florida, a Master of Education degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of West Florida, and an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership from Florida State University.  He has 44 years teaching and coaching experience in Bay County, served as department chair, Teacher of the Year at Mosley High School, where he created the highly successful Outdoor Education program. He researched and authored the award winning book, Full Box! 100 Years of Fishing and Boat Building History in Bay County. 

Currently, he is in his 16th year hosting Panhandle Outdoors on WPGX Fox 28, America's only daily outdoor television show. He is married to Gail Gregory Chester, and they have two children, Wendy Woodrick (Walter), and Chip Chester (Jill). Both graduated from Mosley High School and were selected to the Hall of Fame by their fellow classmates. They also have five grandchildren: Whitney, Ashley and Mason Woodrick and Maddie and Mackenzie Chester. He and his wife are active members of Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. 

District 4 includes Deane Bozeman School, Deer Point Elementary School, Southport Elementary School, and Waller Elementary School.

 E-Mail: chestew@bay.k12.fl.us

 School Board District 4

Steve Moss
District 5

Steve Moss was elected to the School Board in 2010. He is a full-service financial advisor and founder of Moss Wealth Management. His company specializes in retirement and estate planning. Mr. Moss is an alumnus of the University of Florida (UF) with a degree in Telecommunications. He has also completed numerous post-graduate courses in finance, including several from the College of Financial Planning from which he earned the designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist. His interests are in public education finance and service to families. In the decision making process on the board, he will use his unique perspective as the parent of several students who currently attend Bay District Schools. He is a member of Destiny Worship Center, a member of the UF Alumni Association and proudly participates in the Elevate Bay mentor program and the Bay Education Foundation.  He enjoys spending time with his family and coaching/watching baseball. His wife Deniece is the principal at West Bay Elementary School.

School Board District 5