Sunday, November 15, 2026
Fifth-grade teacher Sarah Bonfitto addresses visitors.
Ethan Pattath, clipboard in hand, gives directions.
Officer George Guyer makes a selection at the marketplace.
Stephanie Parker, third grade team leader, watches over her students.
Sign language club members Rushana Zaripova and Kim Tran.
Three eras of school namesake Tommie Barfield: Kate Skudnig, Roselynn Burke, and Marisa Munera.
Astronauts in the wax museum are led by Scout Dorris.
Wax museum characters wait for the next batch of visitors. Students play the roles of famous historical figures in the unique wax museum setting.
Sophia Oliver plays Queen Elizabeth II in the wax museum.
Lala Mattioli plays tennis star Ina Swiatek in the wax museum.
Student leaders sing the song Shine.
Sharon Perez as Rosa Parks.
Anthony Rojas portrays soccer star Christiano Ronaldo.
“There were over 1,000 leadership roles happening simultaneously,” said Tommie Barfield principal Alyssa Ledbetter.
Medardo Ortiz was polished in his emcee role.
This student leader was giving her all.
Kira Swanson was a student at Tommie Barfield.
PTO president Siobhan St. Amour was catching the action with her cellphone camera.
Marco Island Academy’s Amanda Ray formerly worked at Tommie Barfield.
Kira Swanson and Tim Tudor were both students at Tommie Barfield.
A visitor gets down to the student’s level.
Second grader Tatiana entertained the crowd with some solid work on the piano.
Aracely Gutierrez with son Medardo Ortiz.
Superintendent of School Leslie Ricciardelli was a busy woman Friday.
Abbie Savarino is focused on her audience during the Tommie Barfield leadership club demonstration.
Lilah Barhoum entertains on the violin.
Leah Rice performs on the guitar.
Math teacher Jen Blount is surprised to see a friend.
Spirit leaders welcome attendees.
Kevin Saba, Alyssa Ledbetter, Tracy Frazzano, and Leslie Ricciardelli pose in front of the Tommie Barfield backdrop.
Music teacher Craig Greusel strikes up the band.
Tommie Barfield Elementary (TBE) students were at their best Friday morning, March 8, while staging their third annual Leadership Day on their home campus. Community leaders, firefighters, police officers, and educators joined together to learn from the student leaders.
“There were over 1,000 different leadership roles happening simultaneously,” said Alyssa Ledbetter, the school’s principal. “This year, we tried out a couple of different things. Each year that we do it, our students become more and more comfortable in the different leadership roles.”
TBE is a Lighthouse School, a significant benchmark in the Leader in Me framework. Only 600 schools worldwide have earned Lighthouse certification. The Leader in Me School program focuses on the belief that everyone has the potential to lead. The program is an outgrowth of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.
TBE was named a Lighthouse School in May 2023. The designation is good for two years. The school has been a Leader in Me school for five years. Ledbetter said she is getting great buy-in from the students.
"We had almost 300 students apply for various roles,” Ledbetter said, "whether they’re performing, touring, or any of the 1,000 different roles. It’s very exciting. They’re doing an awesome job.”
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