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inform. educate. connect.
Arlington & Lakeland’s Community Newspaper
theview
.com
December 2019
Anna Jones
Finalist 2019-2010 Tennessee Principal of the Year
By Amber Griffith, Editorial Director
So exciting for you to be
named a finalist as principal of the
year! I’m thrilled to be able to
write about you and this
achievement in The View.
1.
What
background in
world?
is
your
the education
I graduated from the University
of Memphis with a Bachelor of
Science in Education.
I received my Master of
Education
in
Educational
Leadership
from
Trevecca
Nazarene University.
My first ten years of teaching
was at Altruria Elementary School
in Bartlett, Tennessee. I taught
fourth grade and loved every
minute of it!
I taught second grade for one
year at Arlington Elementary
before going into administration.
This is my eleventh year at AES
and my fifth year as principal.
2.
Before you were a
principal, you taught for several
years. What did you learn then
that you believe has made you a
better principal and able to
support your team?
The most important thing I’ve
learned through my educational
career is that you have to build
relationships with your students,
parents, teachers, and staff. You
have to let people know you care.
It has to be first. It is a win win
for everyone. When you show
your students that you care about
them they are happier and ready to
learn. Your staff works harder
and your parents are on your team.
Second, you have to make
learning meaningful. As a teacher
my favorite subjects to teach were
math and science. I wanted my
students to connect everything
they learned to real life. I still
believe that there have to be
connections between what we
teach children and their everyday
lives. It makes it much more
meaningful. Learning should be
fun. As a teacher I tried to make
sure there was at least one thing
students looked forward to
everyday. One day it may be a
science experiment and the next
day it might be a spelling game
where the boys competed against
the girls. Learning can be an
adventure.
3.
How would you describe
your leadership style?
**My leadership style is more
as a servant leader. My focus is on
supporting our students and
faculty and putting my trust in
them. We do everything as a
team.
I put others first and work
alongside my faculty and staff. I
try to be sensitive to their needs
and
help
them
grow
professionally. When everyone
has an essential part and works
together, you have a commitment
to the mission and vision of the
school. The reward is the growth
and success of the students.
4. What culture do you feel like
you have helped create at AES
that has made the school succeed?
** The culture at AES has
always been positive. It is inviting
and warm when you enter the
building. We want everyone to
know they are valued and safe and
that are students are in an
environment they can grow and
succeed academically, socially
and emotionally. Most of our
teachers have been teaching at
AES for ten years or more.
Parents are welcome to have
lunch with their children any day
of the week. Parents volunteer
throughout the school.
We
provide afterschool clubs for our
students and numerous family
nights during the school year. The
support of an amazing PTA has
also helped to build this climate.
We have so much to offer our
students, teachers, and families.
When people feel welcomed, they
want to be involved and help.
5. What has been your most
significant moment in your
educational career?
My most significant moment in
my educational career was when I
found out I was selected for the
principal position for AES.
Not only did I have to lead a
school filled with excellent
teachers and staff, but that I had to
make a positive contribution in
over a 1,000 little lives instead of
22. I thought I could and I think I
have.
I love Arlington Elementary
and can’t imagine being anywhere
else.
Inside this edition...
Happenings, p.2
Business , p. 4
School News, p. 8-10
Hidden Picture Puzzle and Sudoku, p. 12
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