DoDEA Europe announces appointment of Superintendent for Europe South District

Dr. Michelle Howard-Brahaney, Department of Defense Education Activity – Europe Director for Student Excellence, is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Elizabeth Fales as the new DoDEA-Europe’s South District Superintendent. “Elizabeth is an outstanding leader whose proven track record and depth of experience make her the ideal choice for this critical role. Her strategic vision and decisive leadership have consistently delivered results. I’m proud to announce her appointment—she will be a powerful force in driving our continued growth and success,” said Brahaney.

Fales joined DoDEA in 2010 as the Early Childhood English Language Arts and Social Studies Instructional Systems Specialist in the then South Carolina/Fort Stewart/Cuba District. Following that, Fales served at DoDEA Headquarters as the Humanities Program Manager where she was responsible for the day-to-day operations and CCRS roll-out of the K-12 ELA/literacy, Social Studies, World Languages, Library, and Fine Arts programs. She also served as a Professional Practice and Improvement Specialist (PPIS) in the Europe Center for Instructional Leadership. As a PPIS, Elizabeth supported school administrators through coaching and job-embedded professional learning.

Before joining DoDEA, Elizabeth served in various instructional roles in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, including general education classroom teacher, reading specialist, gifted and talented educator, and Reading First Reading Coach with the Ferguson-Florissant School District. Within DoDEA, she has held several key leadership positions, including Community Superintendent for the Stuttgart and Ansbach schools in Europe’s East District. Most recently, she served as Superintendent of the East District in DoDEA Europe.

She holds two master’s degrees — one in elementary education and one in supervision and leadership — and recently earned a doctorate in instructional and human performance technology. She is married to a retired DoDEA educator and veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

"As Superintendent of DoDEA Europe’s South District, Fales is committed to delivering the highest standards of education by championing the academic success of every student. She will lead with clarity and conviction, supporting leaders, staff, and families across the district. Her outstanding instructional expertise and broad leadership experience make her exceptionally well-equipped for this vital role,' said Brahaney.