From the superintendent’s desk: Restoring the Roar

Socrates once said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” As of today, July 1, the Jefferson County Schools is officially back in control of the future of education in our community and we are focused on building our reputation, the community’s trust and a bright educational future for our students.

I am forward-looking on our shared journey. The future holds so much that is new:
• New Leadership: Jefferson Schools hired Jackie Pons as Principal of Jefferson PreK-12 School. Mr. Pons comes to us with almost 40 years of education and leadership experience having previously served as school superintendent in Leon County. His goal is to continue improving the schools’ academic performance and attracting back the many students who may have opted for other avenues of education, such as homeschooling, private school or out of county options.
• New Leadership: Jefferson Schools has also hired FSU Hall of Fame Coach Pat Kennedy as Athletic Director. Mr. Kennedy spent 31 years as a Division I Men’s Basketball coach and led Florida State to the NCAA tournament 5 times in 11 years.
• New Teachers: Jefferson Schools has hired 52 new instructional staff. Of these new hires, 17 individuals have previously been awarded the title of “Teacher of the Year” in their district.
• New Reputation: Jefferson Schools has a new name and new branding. We are focused on growth and excellence.
• New Reputation: Jefferson Schools received financial control in February of 2022 and has been able to create a reserve fund to eliminate the need for any future financial oversight. I am committed to staying within budget moving forward.

It’s up to all of us – teachers, students, leaders, parents, key partners and the greater community- to form this school district into what we all want and into what is best for our students. My vision for Jefferson Schools in one of growth, new challenges, rekindled passion and recaptured excellence. I know the future is not just bright, it is brilliant. Go Tigers!