School Leadership

List of 13 members.

• 

  Dr. Debra Otey 

  Head of School

  941-554-5951

  Bio

  As Head of School at The Out-of-Door Academy, Dr. Debra Otey brings 31 years in education, 23 years of dynamic educational leadership experience, and an unyielding passion for helping students and educators turn their passion into purpose. A zealous learner and compassionate encourager, Dr. Otey’s expertise lies in fostering communities where continued growth is not just encouraged but embraced as a cornerstone of individual and collective progress.
  
  

  Highlighting her pursuit of growth, Dr. Otey earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2024, where her dissertation examined the journey of women leaders in large, K-12 independent schools. Her educational pursuits, coupled with extensive experience at previous schools including roles such as lower, middle, and upper school division head, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent, provide her with deep insight into creating school programs and an academic environment where students are challenged and empowered.
• 

  Mrs. Angel Cappar 

  Chief Financial / Operations Officer

  941-554-3402

  Bio

  Angel Cappar is Out-of-Door's Chief Financial Officer, joining the Leadership Team in 2004. Angel holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy, both from Stetson University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida. Angel began her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young in Orlando, Florida and has an extensive background in the not-for-profit industry, holding the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Vice President at Regional Emergency Services, Hospice of Lake & Sumter, and Easter Seals Southwest Florida prior to joining Out-of-Door. 

   

  At Out-of-Door, she is responsible for the oversight of the Business Office, Human Resources, Facilities, Transportation, Institutional Technology, and Auxiliary Programs. She is a member of the AICPA and the FICPA and actively participates in the INDEX benchmarking group. 

   

  She and her husband, Andy, have three children, Duncan ’17, Maeve ’19, and Druinn ’21.
• 

  Mrs. Julie Bianchi 

  Associate Head of School for Academics and Innovation

  941-554-5953

  Bio

  Mrs. Julie Bianchi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a teaching minor in French from Hillsdale College. She also earned a Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. Mrs. Bianchi joined the Out-of-Door community as the Head of the Middle School in 2018, arriving from Detroit Country Day School, where her work spanned 18 years and included roles as teacher, varsity coach, Dean of Students, Director of Admissions, and Division Head. Mrs. Bianchi’s strategic vision balances the rigors of tradition, the excitement of innovation, and the physical and emotional well-being of our complex student body to create classrooms and experiences that thoughtfully and artfully engage individual students every day.
• 

  Mr. Sean Ball 

  Head of Upper School

  941-554-5983

  Bio

  Mr. Sean Ball, a graduate of the University of Florida with a Masters of Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida, was hired in 1992 and has been a member of the Out-of-Door Community for more than twenty-five years. In that time, he has taught Latin, English, and history, coached football, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, soccer, and golf, has been a grade-level dean, the Assistant Head of Middle School, and has overseen CampODA. Presently, he is the Head of Upper School. Mr. Ball enjoys spending time with his family, bike riding, paddleboarding, and spending time at the beach. He has four children, two of whom graduated from the University of Florida and two who attend Out-of-Door.
• 

  Mrs. Jessica Banks 

  Head of Lower School

  941-554-3412

  Bio

  Mrs. Jessica Banks grew up outside of Washington, DC, and began working with children at a very early age. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Clemson University and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. Mrs. Banks worked for more than 20 years in independent elementary schools in Virginia and Florida before joining Out-of-Door in the summer of 2014. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Kindergarten Council and currently serves FCIS as a leader on accreditation visits throughout the state. Mrs. Banks has two children who are students at ODA. She enjoys traveling to their sporting events, adventures with her family, laughter, reading, and spending time with friends.
• 

  Mrs. Elizabeth Bradley 

  Director of Marketing & Communications

  303-880-0108
• 

  Ms. Lisa Clay 

  Director of College Counseling

  941-554-5996

  Bio

  Mrs. Lisa Clay brings a wealth of experience in college admissions to Out-of-Door. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and has spent nearly 20 years advising students, working in college admissions offices and as a director of college counseling for independent schools. Mrs. Clay is also very involved in professional development organizations and has received multiple awards for her outstanding service. She is passionate about partnering with students to find the right college fit to springboard them into successful careers and lives. She brings a unique personality, energy, and approach to the admissions process, and genuinely loves building quality relationships with students and families. In her free time, Mrs. Clay and her husband love to travel and volunteer their time fostering for animal rescue organizations.
• 

  Mr. Erick Crow 

  Director of Fine & Performing Arts

  941-554-5977

  Bio

  Mr. Erick Crow received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music Theatre from Jacksonville University, a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Florida, and his MBA in Digital Marketing from Messiah University. Before coming to ODA, he served as the Fine Arts Chair/Director of Choral Activities and Drama at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Hailed for being an interdisciplinary performer and director, Mr. Crow’s credits include performances with Amy Grant, Andrea Bocelli, The Ocala Symphony, First Coast Opera, The Hilton Head Choral Society, Helena Choral Festival in Montana, The Jacksonville Symphony, and the Cherokee Historical Association in North Carolina. When not directing and teaching, he enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife Audrey and his beagle Pepper.
• 

  Mr. Jason Mahn 

  Head of Middle School, Varsity Football Assistant Coach, MS Boys Basketball Thunder Head Coach, Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach

  941-554-5958

  Bio

  Mr. Jason Mahn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Education from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Mr. Mahn was the History Department Chair at Nichols School, where he oversaw curricular shifts at both the Middle and Upper School levels—each seeking to foster a greater sense of inclusivity and global awareness. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also coached Varsity Baseball and JV/Varsity Volleyball. Prior to his service at Nichols School, he was an Administrative Dean at Freedom Middle School in Orange County, FL and the Lead Teacher for the Social Studies Department at City Honors School in Buffalo, NY. Outside of school, Mr. Mahn and his family are avid sports fans, proudly rooting for the Buffalo Bills and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
• 

  Mrs. Laura Murphy 

  Director of Enrollment Management

  941-554-3404

  Bio

  Moving to Florida in 1989 to teach first grade, Laura has now been at Out-of-Door, and in Sarasota, longer than she has been anywhere. Having grown up in Asia, Laura and her family moved to the United States and settled in Princeton, New Jersey, where she completed her middle and high school years at Princeton Day School. After graduating from Colgate University, she spent a year teaching in a British International School in Nigeria, where she met her husband, Sean. With teaching now in her blood, she decided to pursue her Masters degree at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. The Out-of-Door Academy was the primary reason for Laura and Sean's move to Florida, and there has never been a question that it is the best place for them. At Out-of-Door, Laura has held many roles – first grade teacher, marine science teacher, Latin teacher, advisor, camp counselor (even camp bus driver), Lower School Head, and most recently, Director of Admissions. Laura's son Nicholas has grown up at Out-of-Door, and recently graduated as a PK Lifer.  He is now thriving as a student at Washington University in St. Louis.
• 

  Mr. Andres Parra 

  Athletic Director, Varsity Boys Soccer Assistant Coach

  941-554-5961

  Bio

  Mr. Andres Parra comes to ODA from the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, where he was Director of Boys Athletics for 13 years. In addition to the wealth of knowledge and experience he accumulated, Mr. Parra is a bilingual, Certified Athletics Administrator (CAA) with a master’s degree in Athletic Administration. During his time at Bullis, Mr. Parra was involved in overseeing teams that won 21 conference championships, including the school’s first outright conference championships in football, baseball, lacrosse, and track & field. His philosophy syncs with ODA’s core values as he values hard work, team building, and cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with respect, honesty, and integrity.
• 

  Dr. Kelly Rose 

  Director of the Lower School on Clark Road

  941-444-0335
• 

  Mr. Michael Salmon 

  Director of Development

  941-554-5955

  Bio

  Mr. Michael Salmon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College. He joined the Admissions Office as the Director of Middle and Upper School Admissions in 2013 after serving as the Associate Director of College Counseling at Out-of-Door. Now in a new role at ODA, he leads ODA’s fundraising efforts as Director of Development. 
   
  Mr. Salmon has coached the ODA swim team to district, regional, and state success since 2011. As an athlete, Mr. Salmon competed at Hamilton College where he amassed seven NCAA All-American selections and awards. In 2006, he was the NCAA Division III National Champion for 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events and NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships - “Diver of the Meet.” As a student, Coach Salmon was selected for the 2006 All-Academic Team presented by ESPN the Magazine and selected by CoSIDA.