A Jag for Life

From the morning smiles at the door and involvement in all JA events, to a steady presence that has helped the community feel at home, Mr. Stadler continues to leave his bright impact on the students and staff here at Jefferson Academy. However, after years of being involved with the JA staff, family, and community, it has come to light that Mr. Stadler will no longer be returning as principal next year.

As he prepares to turn the page to the next chapter, students and staff have already begun to feel the weight of what they’ll miss, cherish, and appreciate from his time here.

While the news of his departure has stirred emotions across the school, Mr. Stadler himself reflects on his time at Jefferson Academy with nothing but gratitude and pride.

"I've spent half of my life being part of JA, whether it's being a parent, a coach, a teacher, or a principal. So I'm just super appreciative of the families and the community that I've been connected to for so long," Mr. Stadler expressed.

The deep connection to JA hasn’t just shaped his leadership, it’s also shaped how students see him.

“If I were to describe Mr. Stadler to someone who’s never met him, I'd say he’s a very involved principal. He's the type of principal that you see a lot so you definitely feel like he's around and present. He has the authority and a stern take to him but is very approachable at the same time which I feel are good characteristics for a principal,” sophomore Cadence Fredricey explained.

Mr. Stadler’s presence has become a defining part of daily life at Jefferson Academy, and for many kids, his leadership style has left a strong impression, leaving students to recognize that his actions go far beyond the principal’s office.

“I noticed that he gets talked about more because of how involved he is, for example, going to our games and events. Kids appreciate his support at school events and I feel like that's something that's played a big part this year,” said Fredricey.

The level of association has helped build more than just recognition, it fostered real relationships between Mr. Stadler and the students. And while students clearly noticed and appreciated his constant support, the feeling was mutual.

"What I valued most as principal was the kids without a doubt, generally lunches or passing periods. We get to see you guys in your natural habitats. I'll miss those times where we get to see you guys just get to be kids, running around on the turf and getting to be yourself," Mr. Stadler noted.

In addition to his presence among students, Mr. Stadler was equally regarded for his leadership among faculty. His commitment to fostering professional development and supporting staff growth left a lasting impression on those who worked alongside him.

“You know, one of the great things that Mr. Stadler has done for me personally is he really pushed my professional development. He's always been very encouraging and has always had positive things to say. He's offered things that I can work on and things that I can do not only to improve student learning but to improve my own professional development as well,” Mrs. Defiore mentioned.

As a leader, Mr. Stadler not only invested in the growth of his staff but also empowered students to take ownership of their school experience, leaving more freedom for clubs like STUCCO and NHS to work with.

Mr. Stadler and members of the staff have accomplished many things this year including working on the intervention programs, ensuring each student gets the support they need, getting rid of the infamous ugly shed that was out at lunch, and having a new set of grandstands in the works for the students and families to enjoy.

Looking ahead, he hopes that students will remember his time not as a peak, but as a meaningful beginning.

"If the students were to look back and remember my time here, I hope they'd think, ‘It's not Mr. Stadler's time but that was just the start of something really cool that will come along in the future.’"