Jefferson-Somerset gets a transition principal

Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Jefferson-Somerset students who returned to in-person classes on Wednesday were likely to have encountered a new face around the campus, one very familiar to many in the Big Bend region.
Jackie Pons, a longtime educator and former school superintendent in Leon County, is Somerset’s newest addition. Pons has been hired as the transition principal, a role that he will share with current Somerset Principal Cory Oliver and that the former is expected to fill permanently once the district takes back the schools in 2022.
School Superintendent Eydie Tricquet introduced Pons to the school board on Monday evening, Aug. 9, saying that his selection was the result of a collaborative effort by her, Somerset and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).
Pons, who had already been at Somerset for the two prior weeks, said the charter school was working closely with him to help make the transition a success. He also, he said, had met with many local parents at an open house on the previous week and had received a very warm reception from the community.
“I’m excited to be here,” Pons said. “I plan to be here a while, if I can prove myself worthy.”
The school board members welcomed Pons, especially members Bill Brumfield and Shirley Washington, who were acquainted with him from past dealings. Washington told Pons that she had been hearing only positive comments from parents, who had told her that they were now planning on returning their children to the district.
Pons told the News afterwards that he has had a long and warm relationship with the local community, mentioning that his mother once worked for Congressman Allen Boyd and that he regularly shops at Johnston’s Meat Market and Jefferson Farmers Market.
Pons told the News that it wouldn’t be inaccurate to describe his role at Somerset for the present as being to shadow Oliver and learn the workings of the school system from top to bottom. Oliver, he said, would be running the daily operations, but he would be involved, learning the protocols and procedures and sometimes having input into the decision-making.
He said his goal was to continue improving the school’s academic performance and attracting back the many students who have opted to pursue other avenues for their education, whether through homeschooling, private schools or out-of-county public schools.
Pons started his educational career in Leon County as a social studies and physical education teacher at Rickards High School. He was subsequently promoted to assistant principal at Rickards and then principal of Deer Lake Middle School, whose academic standing he is credited with improving.
In 2006, Pons replaced Bill Montford as Leon County school superintendent when the latter stepped down to head the statewide school superintendents association. Montford eventually was elected to the Florida Senate.
Pons, meanwhile, served as Leon County school superintendent for 10 years, overseeing a budget of $435 million and nearly 5,000 employees. He served until 2016, when he lost his bid for a fourth term to current Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna.
In his last three years in office, Pons was credited with raising Leon County’s high school graduation rate up 12 percent and decreasing the dropout rate to less than one percent. Under his leadership, the district was also ranked as the state’s first or second majority-minority, with its students scoring above the state average on the FCAT in every subject at all grade levels.
A majority-minority district is one in which a racial minority group or groups comprise a majority of the district’s total population.
Pons’ last term, however, was marred by allegations of wrongdoing, which the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement jointly investigated jointly and in 2018 ultimately dropped, clearing him of any wrongdoing. The allegations, which appears were politically motivated, contributed to his election loss.
After leaving office as school superintendent, Pons worked short stints at FSU and FAMU and also worked as senior vice president of business development at a New York-based educational software company.