Raised just outside of Baltimore, Mrs. Cook moved to the Sunshine State in 1993 to attend the University of Florida where she completed her undergraduate degree in English. After teaching high school and college level English for several years in Orlando and pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Mrs. Cook returned to the Ocala area in 2003 where she began her career as a school administrator at Hale Academy.
Mrs. Cook has served and been recognized in a variety of capacities in the field of education, both public and private, including Instructional Coach for Orange County Public Schools, published curriculum writer for Valencia Community College, supervising intern instructor for University of Central Florida, and the 2001 recipient of Disney’s Teacherrific Award for Outstanding Program. Mrs. Cook has taught students as young as third grade and in a variety of subjects in both the middle and upper school levels including English, American History, World Geography, Journalism and Psychology. She served as a high school English Department Chair in Orlando and as Hale Academy’s middle and upper school division head and Assistant Head of School before assuming the Head’s position in 2007.
Mrs. Cook is actively involved in the community as a graduate of Leadership of Marion and as a member of Emerging Leaders of Ocala. She presently serves as the Education Divsion Chair for the United Way of Marion County.
Mrs. Cook is married, has two daughters, Amanda (13) and Bella (7) and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, running, writing, and Florida football. Mrs. Cook loves Ocala and working alongside of the teachers, students and parents at Hale Academy.
Mrs. Kim Heitmuller, Assistant Head of School & Director of Guidance
Mrs. Heitmuller relocated to Ocala from the Washington, D.C. area in 1999. Mrs. Heitmuller and her husband have two children – Merritt (22) and Shelby (15).
Mrs. Heitmuller is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Webster University where she earned a Masters Degree in School Guidance Counseling and Mental Health Counseling. Mrs. Heitmuller has a varied and distinguished career in the field of education and enjoys working with students of all ages in a variety of capacities including instructing middle school Life Management and serving as Hale Academy’s Assistant Head of School and Director of Guidance.
Mrs. Heitmuller is an avid reader, a movie-buff and a beach-lover, but her biggest love is her family and the students with whom she works everyday!
Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Mrs. Thompson currently lives in Homosassa, having moved to Citrus County in 1970. She has been married to her husband Dwayne for 19 years. She has 3 children – Stephen (30) Tiffany (28) Brian (27), and 2 grandsons – Drue (7) and Daen (2).
Mrs. Thompson joined Hale Academy in 2005 as an Administrative Assistant and Registrar. She has been in the administrative field since 1998, having worked at Progress Energy’s Nuclear Power Plant, along with many years in the printing and healthcare field.
Her favorite hobbies were playing softball, where she played in a world tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas (1995) and many years on a bowling league. When not spending time with family and friends, Mrs. Thompson loves coming to work at Hale Academy!
cherylthompson@haleacademy.org
Hale Academy abides by all guidelines of the Ethics In Education Act of Florida. Therefore, all employees and agents of Hale Academy have an obligation and legal responsibility to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Failure to report such misconduct may result in penalties up to termination of employment and revocation of an educator’s certificate.
