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Jeff Jones has a passion for education, a passion for providing a quality instructional environment and educating the whole child through the arts, physical education, STEM education, and character education. The veteran educator is bringing that passion to Baker Elementary School as the school’s new principal.
The upcoming school year will mark Principal Jones’ 16th year in education. He has served in Cobb Schools for the past 15 years as a teacher and administrator. He taught students in first, third, and fourth grades at Pitner Elementary School and Mountain View Elementary School before stepping into the role as assistant principal at East Side Elementary School and Chalker Elementary School.
In the question and answer section below, Principal Jones explains what led him to become an educator, how he defines student success, what the school community can expect from him, and what he enjoys doing outside of school.
Question: Why are you excited to serve the Baker Elementary School community as principal?
Answer: “I am excited to serve the Baker Elementary School community as principal because Baker’s mission—Inspire. Empower. Achieve—speaks to the faculty and support staff’s commitment of meeting the needs of all students, celebrating each student’s successes as they become self-directed learners. Baker Elementary has a great reputation because of the passion and dedication of its teachers and support staff, along with parental and community support. In addition, Baker Elementary offers beautiful grounds, which include gardens and a chicken coop, providing a rich, unique learning environment. I am passionate about supporting and enriching students’ instructional experiences.”
Question: What most impresses you about the students and school community at Baker Elementary School?
Answer: “The Baker community produces well-prepared students who have developed the skills and attributes to help them reach their individual goals. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Baker Elementary, and I was so impressed with the students’ knowledge and eagerness to learn. I witnessed first-hand students using critical thinking skills as they showcased their knowledge in using various technology equipment, including coding and printing on a 3D printer. This is a testament to the innovative teaching that occurs daily at Baker Elementary.”
Question: What can the school community expect to see under your leadership?
Answer: “While becoming a part of the Baker community, I will continue to foster a positive school climate while working to build relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community. I will listen and learn from all stakeholders and work to ensure a culture that values high levels of instruction and learning, while also building the sense of community through promoting and attending various school and community events throughout the school year.”
Question: What does student success look like to you?
Answer: “Student success is as individual as each child. While academics is one component of students’ success, students’ emotional learning is another component that is just as important. I truly believe all students can and will learn when given the right tools. As educators, we must tap into each student’s talents and strengths and challenge them at their individual levels.”
Question: What do you like most about being an educator?
Answer: “As an educator, one of the most rewarding moments is seeing a student grasp a concept they struggled to understand or watching a student first learn how to read. These “lightbulb” moments often leave students with huge smiles on their faces and a newfound love for learning. These moments are what inspired me to want to enter the education profession and what I still love most to this day. It is our mission as educators to foster this love for learning and develop our students into life-long learners.”
Question: Outside school, where might students, parents or staff members run into you?
Answer: “Outside of school, you may run into me with my wife, Kristen, and our four children, Kellen, Chad, Taylor, and Savannah camping in the north Georgia mountains. We are also avid DIY’ers, so you may also find me at the local home improvement store.”
