My name is Leslie Wheeler, and I am the proud principal of Spanish Fort Middle School.  I have been serving as an administrator at SFMS since 2013.  In 2021, I was named Principal and have worked to create a positive climate and culture where students feel safe and have the most innovative learning environment in Baldwin County and the state of Alabama. 

Education is something that is in my blood and runs through my soul.  Both of my parents were educators and served in leadership roles in their school systems.  They led the way for me when it comes to my servant leadership style.  Working with middle schoolers is by far one of the most rewarding and often challenging space for educators.  Our students are with us for two years which does not give us a lot of time to build relationships and make lasting connections.  It is my mission to try and connect with as many of our students as possible.  On any given day, you will find me walking the hallways with students, in classrooms, at break and lunch interacting with our students so that they know who I am and see that I care deeply for each of them. 

Not only do I serve as the principal at SFMS, but I am also a parent and community member.  My children attend Spanish Fort Schools and are very active in the community.  They all benefit from the excellent education Baldwin County Schools provide.  We are Toros forever! 

I am the 8^th Grade Assistant Principal at Spanish Fort Middle School. My family moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast in August of 2019. Prior to moving, we lived in Enterprise, Alabama for 9 years, where I taught multiple Social Studies courses at Dauphin Junior High School and Enterprise High School and coached football. In 2019, we moved to Spanish Fort worked at Saraland High School teaching multiple Social Studies courses and coaching football. I am happily married to Lynley Corley who is an Occupational Therapist in Spanish Fort. We are blessed with one daughter, Emmalyn Grace, who is in 1st Grade at Stonebridge Elementary. We are so happy to be part of this community! 

My career in education began in 2010 when I graduated from Huntingdon College. I started my teaching career at Dauphin Junior High School in Enterprise teaching 8th Grade World History. In 2014, I moved to Enterprise High School to coach football and teach a variety of subjects. In 2019, I began teaching and coaching at Saraland High School. In 2014, I completed my Masters’ Degree in Instructional Leadership from Jacksonville State University. I have been truly blessed to be a part of several great organizations with fantastic leaders at each stop! 

My family and I are excited to be joining the Spanish Fort Middle School family. I grew up in a small town where the teachers, coaches, and principals were also the Sunday school teachers, community leaders, youth league coaches, etc. My family and I are looking forward to adding to the Spanish Fort community! 

I'm super excited to join Spanish Fort Middle School as Assistant Principal! With 23 years of experience in education across Baldwin and Mobile counties, including time as an administrator at Daphne Middle and Central Baldwin Middle, I'm really passionate about creating awesome learning environments. 

Outside of work, I'm a wife and proud mom of three. We've been lucky to call Spanish Fort home for a decade, and it's been an amazing place to live. The community here is fantastic, and the natural beauty just adds to the charm. 

Living here has shown me how important community values are, and they totally match my educational beliefs. I believe that when schools and families team up, students thrive. That's what I'm all about at Spanish Fort Middle. 

Just like I care about my own family, I'm dedicated to helping every student grow. By offering a supportive and caring learning journey, I want to make a positive impact on their lives. As Assistant Principal, I'm excited to blend my experience with the community's vision to make learning here the best it can be!