Dear Bobcat Families,

It is an honor to introduce myself as the new principal of Sawgrass Bay Elementary School and to join this extraordinary school community. I can assure you that I share in this school community’s commitment to caring for your children each and every day while providing them a world-class learning environment.

As I begin my journey at Sawgrass Bay, I come to you as a seasoned Lake County educator and leader, in addition to my role as an educator, I am first and foremost a father and husband. My wife, Brittany and I have been married for 10 years and we have four beautiful children. My daughter Charlotte begins third grade, my son Clayton begins second grade, and my identical twin boys Corbin and Camden will be turning  4 years old in September.

The 2024-2025 school year will mark my 12th year in education. Since graduating from the University of Central Florida, I have served the Lake County community as a teacher assistant, teacher, dean, and assistant principal. Although I have always felt at home in the classroom, it is in my position as a building leader where I have been most fulfilled in my life’s work. As I shift to my role as the principal, I will bring all these experiences with me as I partner with each of you to ensure your child’s success. The elementary principalship provides me the chance to work collaboratively with teachers on a daily basis, while also remaining connected to young students learning and growing in the classroom. I firmly believe that every child can excel and that the partnership between home and school builds confidence in students to use their powers to shape their future and become leaders in their community.

As the principal of Sawgrass Bay School (SBE), I would like to welcome you to our school, home of the Bobcats! I believe that ALL students can achieve high levels of success through goals setting, hard work, and perseverance. The staff at Sawgrass Bay is committed to setting high academic standards for our students while providing a nurturing environment that encourages curiosity and a love for learning. These standards help to instill confidence and a work ethic that will follow our students to middle school, high school, and beyond.

I want to emphasize that my door is always open to you. I warmly welcome your conversations and valuable input throughout the school year. Let us continue to make our students the central focus of all our efforts. I eagerly anticipate celebrating our collective achievements during the upcoming school year.

Yours in education,

Gary Locuson

Principal, Sawgrass Bay Elementary

Email Mr. Locuson

Grade Levels: 3-5

Hello Sawgrass Bay! 

My name is Amber Estro, and I am one of your Assistant Principals here at Sawgrass Bay Elementary School, where I am honored to be part of such a vibrant and collaborative community. 

Growing up, the classroom was always a safe and nurturing environment for me, thanks to the dedicated teachers and staff who made me feel seen and valued. This positive experience inspired me to become a role model and guide for students and staff alike.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University. Over the years, I have served as a classroom teacher for various elementary grades, a PASS teacher, and most recently, an Instructional Dean, which has taught me the importance of looking at the whole child and recognizing that building relationships is an essential key to the overall academic success. These roles have equipped me with the necessary tools and experiences to effectively empower our wonderful campus of leaders and support our amazing students and staff. 

I am passionate about fostering an inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every student will thrive. I also believe that strong family partnerships are essential to creating the best possible school experience. I invite families to reach out to me with any questions, suggestions, or ideas. Together, we can make Sawgrass Bay Elementary an even better place for our children to learn and grow.  

I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success and growth of our school community. 

Sincerely, 

Amber Estro

Email Mrs. Estro

Grade Levels: PK-2

Hi Sawgrass Bay Families,

My name is Nicole Fulton, and I am thrilled to be joining Sawgrass Bay Elementary as your Assistant Principal.  

I am a product of Lake County Schools and extremely proud of the education I received. I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a very young age. I had a wonderful 3rd grade teacher who instilled the love of learning in her students and it has stuck with me. I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UCF (Go Knights!) and have been teaching for 10 years at Cypress Ridge Elementary.

My 10 years includes a mix of Kindergarten through 3rd grade, as well as, out of the classroom roles.  Each age group has taught me so much and the kids alone made each year exciting and full of love. I found myself leaving each year learning so much from my students and excited for the next year.

I knew I wanted to move out of the classroom when I realized how much more of a difference I can make in a leadership role, not only for students, but for teachers and staff as well. So I went back to UCF for my Masters in Educational Leadership and graduated in December of 2019. My goal in life is to make a difference and so far I have done that in the classroom. Now I am excited to see what I can do outside of the classroom.

Feel free to stop in, give me a call or send me an email to discuss any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to help make this the best year yet for our students.

Sincerely,

Nicole Fulton

Email Ms. Fulton