- January 13, 2026
Rymfire Elementary School Assistant Principal Abra Seay will be recognized at Flagler Schools' Teacher of the Year gala on Jan. 26 as the district's Assistant Principal of the Year.
Seay, a graduate of Flagler Palm Coast High School, has been with the district for 26 years as a teacher and administrator. She taught at Bunnell Elementary School for 13 years, moving to the district office as coordinator of early childhood education and then as a curriculum specialist with Teaching and Learning.
Seay was an FPC assistant principal during a tumultuous time with COVID and the death of Principal Tom Russell. She adopted a bulldog to bring on campus and the Flagler County Education Foundation helped pay to have Champ trained and certified as a therapy dog. Seay is now in her fourth year as Rymfire. She and Champ arrived at the school as a package deal.
How does it feel to be named Assistant Principal of the Year?
It was definitely an honor that I've never really aspired to. You don't think of that kind of stuff. Our days are so busy that you always do what's best for the kids, because that's why we're here. But also as a leader, you're making sure that your teachers and your staff are well taken care of and well supported. So, it's definitely an honor, but it's also 100% team. Everybody that I work with, I feel is part of this award. We have an amazing staff, and parents, families, and definitely students. So, I'm very honored to represent all of the administrators in our district, all of our assistant principals, but more so, the teachers and families here at Rymfire.
Were you surprised when you found out?
Absolutely. It was first thing in the morning, and I was actually showing one of our parents a classroom. And I was asked me to come to the door, and that's when the district staff came around the corner. I was in shock, really. It was a huge surprise. I was very humbled because there's so many great assistant principals in our district. I've never really been one to want a lot of attention for what I do. I just do what I do because I love children, and education is important.
How did Champ become a mascot and school icon?
I applied and was hired [in 2020] to go to FPC as as assistant principal. I was so excited to go and work with Mr. Russell because I worked with him when I was at the district office, just on some school improvement things, and he was such a highly regarded and loved administrator. Unfortunately, it was a time that he had gotten COVID, and then got hospitalized and then tragically passed away. So, I never really got to work with him. It was a very sad time because so many people loved Mr. Russell so much. It was a rough year.
Then a teacher friend of mine, Katie Kastner, we started talking, 'What if we just got a real live bulldog, a real live mascot?' I started researching different breeds [of bulldogs] and they were so expensive, because he was also going to be my personal dog. Another friend said, there's a lady on Facebook in Edgewater who has an Old English Bulldog, which is bigger. I went down and looked at the whole litter, and something just told me to pick him. We started introducing him to the high school. I went to the late Joe Rizzo, and bounced the idea off of him. He said the Education Foundation would support [Champ's training]. Champ passed his obedience classes and then we went through a certification process for him to be a certified therapy dog.
How did Champ get his name?
We started introducing him to the high school kids when he was a puppy, and they voted on his name. Russell and Champ were the two top vote getters. He's registered with papers, and on all of his certificates, his name is Russell the Champ. I actually had another dog named Russell. So, we just call him Champ, sort of like his middle name. He was very famous at FPC, of course. He loves the football games.
FPC is home of the Bulldogs. How is Champ fitting in at Rymfire?
I met with [Superintendent LaShakia Moore] and a couple other members at the district to get the permission to bring him in at the elementary school level. I had outlined how he was going to work with the students. And so, this is our fourth year now at Rymfire, and when I say he is a celebrity, like if we walk through the halls right now, you would see everybody [yell] 'Champ, Champ.' The kids adore him. The staff really adores him too.
What is Champ's role at school?
At the beginning of the year, I introduce him to all the students. The teachers can sign up for 20-minute classroom visits. And with the older kids, especially, we discuss the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog. But then we also discuss the scientific research behind what a therapy dog is for, so they can understand why they're so excited when they see him and how that makes them feel. Because it's scientifically proven, being around dogs decreases blood pressure and heart rate and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.
As the year gets started, he comes in Wednesdays for 'Read to Me Wednesdays,' and that's been such a success, because the kids absolutely love to read to him, and so it promotes a love for reading. And then we use Fridays as a time for classroom visits, individual student visits for those students that have met their behavior goals. If Champ's here, and we have a student in crisis, crying or just unregulated, I bring the student to my office, and instantly they calm down. They leave more focused, more refreshed. They leave happier. So Champ has an important job around here, and he keeps us all busy. And he loves to go to school. And then I'm also very respectful of anybody who either has allergies or may have a fear of dogs. All around, it's been wonderful. He came at a time that I really feel like God just made it all happen, because he almost embodies the spirit of Mr. Russell, who was such a kind, loving, supportive person himself.
Did you always want to be an educator?
Education has always been a passion of mine. I dabbled with going into business, just because I thought there'd be more money. But with family [Seay has five children and now six grandchildren], the schedule of a teacher just coincided with raising a family. And I had wonderful teachers throughout my years growing up at all levels. When I was in elementary school, my father was incarcerated. Looking back now, it really affected me. And I had just amazing elementary teachers that loved me and supported me. In elementary school and high school, when you're surrounded by loving educators and support staff who made a difference in your life, you want to give back. I hope I've done that over my 20-something years.
