Spotlight on Alumni: Kristina Bellamy, M.Ed. '08

You have to be a go-getter to be the principal of an elementary school at the age of 32, and that's exactly what Kristina Bellamy is. As principal of Tudor Elementary School, she's the youngest leader in the Anchorage School District's elementary division.

"There are so many facets to this job, it's unreal," said Bellamy. Every day, she's responsible for watching over 376 children and managing 60 staff members.

Born and raised in Anchorage, and a product of the Anchorage School District herself, Bellamy didn't originally intend on being an educator. She earned her first undergraduate degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. "I never thought I'd become a teacher, but looking back, I was always in the role of teaching people. Going into education was a natural progression for me."

Prior to teaching, Kristina managed after-school programs for the Anchorage School District's 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. In 2002, she taught for Teach for America in New York City and Los Angeles. Bellamy earned her first master's degree in elementary education from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Her desire to return home brought her to UAA to continue her educational journey. Bellamy chose UAA because she wanted to make connections with the people that she knew she'd be working with as a professional educator. "There's real value in that face-to-face contact," said Bellamy. She earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership in 2008.

"I use the skills I learned at UAA every day," Bellamy said. "To have a quality institution of higher learning is essential to the growth of our city and state. UAA is the pulse and lifeline of Anchorage - it provides windows to the world for its students and gives them a diverse perspective. Accreditation is important, too. If our programs aren't accredited, we allow our talent to go elsewhere. Growing our own and keeping them here is critical."

When she's not roaming the halls of her school, Bellamy is deeply rooted in the Anchorage community as a volunteer and entrepreneur. She's the founder and owner of Simply Stunning LLC, where she shares her many years of modeling and pageantry experience with young women. Bellamy helps instill confidence through mock interviews, wardrobe and image consultations, and walk and stage presence training. Through Simply Stunning, she also plans events, and is currently planning one very important event: her wedding in June 2010.

Bellamy also serves as the vice president of the Anchorage Urban League Young Professionals and as president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Xi Psi Omega Chapter.

This go-getter attributes her successes to the many people who have helped her get to where she is today. "Someone invested time and energy in me, and I want do the same for someone else," she said. "I feel that it's my responsibility to pay that forward for the betterment of our community."