A New Leader & Journey

As the start of the school year races into action and new leadership is on the rise, Dr. Schultz is welcomed by our community as she begins her journey as Jefferson Academy’s new principal.

With any big change can come new beginnings and a fresh start. For many people involved in JA, the opportunity to contribute to a school that is centered on character and belonging is one of many distinguished benefits that sets it apart. 

“I have always loved JA,” Dr. Schultz stated. “I came here six years ago, and just fell in love with the community. Although I didn’t join six years ago, I always wanted to be a part of it.”

Having a support system can be helpful for any student in high school. For Dr. Schultz, an inspiration in her career was her principal, Mr. Hebert.

“I had a wonderful principal [in high school], although I wasn’t always the best student,” Dr. Schultz explained. “I had to work in the mornings and after school, so it was a really big challenge for me, but my high school principal inspired me for my whole life. He kept saying that education is not something that will ever be taken away from you. It’s something that you own; so, you might have a lot of things in your life that are taken from you, but your education never will be.”

Being in a position of leadership entails impacting those around you and growing with them. Throughout the many principals JA has had over the years, the leadership styles varied along the way. 

“I firmly believe in ‘servant leadership,’” Mrs. Garcia declared. “The idea is that instead of somebody pushing you from behind, or pulling you from the front, they walk side by side [with you].”

The opportunity to teach in a way that resonates with students and teachers alike is something many teachers are looking for.

“There’s a lot of value in the teacher’s perspective- being in the classroom with students, working with them every day, understanding how they learn and the cultures we create in our classrooms, and the collaborations that happen between teachers,” Mrs. Garcia continued, “I think there’s such value in that and I hope that it’s maintained and continued.”

Furthermore, some teachers shared that they would like to have a foundation of freedom and trust in their classrooms.

“I want leadership in general to trust the teachers to be teachers,” Mr. Ketcham noted. “We’ve all said for years, we have amazing teachers. Let us teach.”

With that being said, there is also an element of togetherness at JA as well, which can especially be seen with Dr. Shultz.

“She has this belief that we’re all in this together and we should all help each other out,” Mr. Ketcham stated. “I’ve already seen it a couple of times where she’s willing to help and do what she can to make a problem easier for a teacher.”

In some ways, this can be done through being attentive to the community and its needs as well.

“I think she’s great,” Mr. Cloonan said. “I think that she brings a good energy to the school. She is very person-forward and wants to meet everybody.”

All of these attributes are in line with our school's mission and vision, allowing for the school to thrive on a strong foundation that has been built by JA and will continue to grow for years to come.

“[Dr. Schultz] really has an interest in getting to know people and who they are, what brought them to JA, what keeps them at JA, and what makes JA the place they want to be,” Mrs. Porreco explained. “I think her communication and her forethought is unmatched. I think everything that she does is with intention, and for the betterment of the staff and students.”

Overall, the experience that students build in high school is something that can go by quickly without you realizing it. It’s important to make an impact wherever you go.

“Speak up. Share your voice. Share what you would like to have at your school,” Dr. Schultz encouraged. “Get involved and follow your passion. Life is a long journey, and it’s really fun if you follow your passion, and it will take you down lots of different avenues.”