From the superintendent’s desk

Dear friends,
Before all else, please join me in a collective hug and heartfelt congratulations to our Class of 2022 graduates and their families. All the hard work has paid off, and I am committed to supporting their future paths in any way I can.
To our future graduating classes and their families: Know that there is no doubt you will feel my direct guidance and oversight, and the supportive touch of an excellent new school team that holds your success as the beacon of their daily work. July 1, 2022, marks the start of a new era for Jefferson County Schools!
I have said time and again that an organization’s success rises and falls on leadership. I am unwavering in that belief, and I am excited to share with you how I am putting that belief into practice to the benefit our students and staff, and to this community, by hiring the best of the best leaders:

Jefferson County PreK-12 School Principal Jackie Pons. Mr. Pons has been serving as Principal in Transition at Somerset Jefferson since last year. Many know him as former Superintendent of Schools for Leon County, but his experience in education administration alone extends across more than three decades. He held several positions along the trajectory to superintendent: teacher, assistant principal, principal, basketball coach, athletic director. He was selected Principal of the Year, and during his tenure as principal at Deerlake Middle the school was one of only 14 in the nation to earn a Blue Ribbon Distinction Award. While serving as Superintendent of Schools in Leon County, African American graduation rates rose by 25 points. His was recognized as one of the highest performing majority minority school districts in the state, and Mr. Pons received the NAACP Partnership Award in 2016. He holds degrees from FSU and FAMU.

Assistant Principal Beverly Faxon-Burnett. Ms. Faxon-Burnett brings more than 30 years of education experience that specifically aligns with our students’ needs. Her work with ESE students in low SES schools, both in the classroom and in supervisory behavioral health positions, is exactly what we need to fully support our students. She has served in Leon and Hillsborough counties and was voted Teacher of the Year in both locations, and she received the Director’s Award for Florida State University Schools. She holds bachelor and graduate degrees from FSU’s School of Education and an Educational Specialist (E.Ds.) degree from Nova Southeastern University. In addition to her academic and professional accomplishments, Ms. Faxon-Burnett, a Tallahassee native, was the first and only local female athlete to earn a college basketball scholarship, and she attended FSU on that full scholarship. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Women’s Basketball at Florida State University in 2012 and the Hall of Fame for Women’s Basketball at the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2009.

Assistant Principal Daniel Moore. Mr. Moore holds an AA from Miami-Dade College, a Bachelor of Arts in English from FSU and a Master’s in Education from Grand Canyon University. He is currently working on his PhD in Educational Leadership. During his more than 18 years of professional education experience, all in Florida, Mr. Moore has served as a Bureau Chief at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Senior Administrator of ESE and Curriculum at Florida High, Senior Assessment Coordinator for FDOE, teacher and Instructional Coach for Leon County Schools and Academic Support Specialist at Miami-Dade College. He has also held consultant, coaching and advisory roles in the private sector throughout the state, and hit the ground running during the transition period here in Jefferson guiding teachers to certification. In addition to all his expertise, Mr. Moore speaks Spanish and we are excited he brings that talent to the Assistant Principal role. We know our Hispanic/Latino students and families will appreciate this and it will go a long way in Jefferson County Schools’ commitment to inclusivity for all families in decisions about their students, in communications and in outreach.

Dean of Students Rodell Thomas. Mr. Thomas has served in the role of Student Dean for 15 years in Florida, most of them here in Jefferson County where he is a beloved mentor and inexhaustible supporter of all students. His ability to solidify relationships with students and garner trust from families is without par, and we so value his presence on our student services team. Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Alabama State University in Montgomery, and many know that he was an NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks and the Miami Dolphins. Using this elite professional experience, Mr. Thomas has also served in football coaching roles at Gadsden County High School, Robert F. Munroe Day School and for Jefferson County School District prior to the move to charter schools. This talent adds another level to Mr. Thomas’ ability to build rapport and trust with our students.

ESE Director Allyn Howard. Ms. Howard’s professional experience makes her the perfect choice for ESE (Exceptional Student Education) Director for Jefferson County Schools. The list of her relevant experience is long, specific and impressive: 11 years in special education; juvenile mental health and rehabilitation work; crisis prevention and intervention; youth mental health first aid; certification in positive behavior support instruction; trained educator in trauma-informed and restorative practices. Ms. Howard was Coordinator of Professional Development for several counties while at Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS), and in 2021 was selected as Transition Administrator at Somerset Jefferson. Her degrees include a B.S. in Psychology from FSU and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. She is an accomplished athlete – throughout her sports career she was repeatedly All ACC and All Conference, and she holds a Master of Science in Sports Management and a Graduate Certificate in Athletic Coaching from FSU, which prepared her for her role as Assistant Coach for Women’s Track and Field at FAMU for the 2011-12 school year.

Friends, I know you are as impressed as I am with this team. And I know you share my gratitude that they chose to make a difference here in Jefferson County where they are so needed and where their marks will be remembered for a long time; they certainly could have gone anywhere. I am confident in their abilities and their vision for our children, and I feel that God has graced Jefferson County with the right people at the right time.