July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Change in leadership (05/31/07)
Change in leadership (05/31/07)
By By JENNIFER TARTER-
School is officially out for the summer, but the newly appointed administrators at Jay County High School are already planning for the first day of school.
Newly named JCHS principal Jeremy Gulley, 34, and JCHS assistant principal/dean of students Sean McConnell, 40, are looking forward to the changes and challenges that will come with their new positions in the 2007-08 school year.
As dean of students/assistant principal, Gully said that his focus has mainly been on maintaining order at the school, which has approximately 1,200 students. With his promotion to principal, his focus will change from the disciplinary part of the job to more interaction with teachers. He will also have more of a hand in preparing students for the work world.
"We believe a diploma isn't an end point but the start point," Gulley said. "We are entering an information age ... the challenge is to prepare students for that. It requires more education (after high school)."
Gulley also wants to implement a program using technology that gives parents access to information about their student's performance.
One of his three goals for his new position is be part of creating a web-based program that allows parents to have access to their child's grades and attendance records online.
"This is an example of integrating technology in daily routines," Gulley said.
He plans to work on creating this program during the 2007-08 school year and be ready to implement it for the 2008-09 school year.
Another goal that Gulley would like to see ready to go for the 2008-09 school year, is the creation of a freshman academy. This program will divide freshman into three groups similar to academic teams at the middle schools, giving students common core teachers throughout the day.
"A school with 1,200 students is a big school and while there are some great opportunities, it can also leave some students behind," he added.
Gully has another goal that he hopes to implement by the start of school in August that will give students a chance to learn outside of the classroom.
"Jay County has 250 non-profit organizations. I would like to see seniors (perform six hours of community service) their senior year, to give back to the community that has given to them," Gulley said. "It's a life changing experience."
Gulley would like to assign government students to take part in a community service learning opportunity during their last year at JCHS.
He has been working with JCHS staff members on these and other goals and is looking forward to continuing work this summer and into the start of his new position, which becomes effective on July 1.
"Our staff is growing younger every year. They bring new energy and ideas, with the veteran teachers also expressing a need to contribute," Gulley said. "That is the biggest strength of this school community. Things grow from that."
Gulley began teaching American and U.S. history at JCHS in 1996.
"At the time, I was the first new hire and the youngest teacher in the (history) department since the school was built in 1975," Gulley said.
He taught at JCHS for two years, taught history for three years at West Jay Middle School, then served as the assistant principal at East Jay Middle School for two years.
This is Gully's fourth year as dean of students at JCHS.
"I have gotten a chance to know the community both east and west. I have had some good experiences all the way around," Gulley said. "I am gratified that the superintendent and the (school) board felt confident to place those within our (school) system in these positions."
A Blackford High School graduate, he graduated from Ball State University in Muncie with his masters degree in political science and school administration.
Gulley, his wife Jennifer and their sons, Liam, 5 and Connor, 4, live near Montpelier. He is also a 17-year member of the Army National Guard.
He encourages parents or members of the community to contact him by email at [email protected] and said he is looking forward to seeing parents and students at registration in early August.
As Gulley steps into the role of principal, McConnell will be picking up where Gulley left off as assistant principal/dean of students.
McConnell worked in the Jay School Corporation since 2004 when he became assistant principal at EJMS.
"The people are great (at EJMS)," McConnell said. "That's one hard thing about it. The kids and staff are great. I have built a lot of relationships with people here. But I probably already know two thirds of the freshmen, sophomores and juniors (at JCHS) because I got to know them (at EJMS)."
McConnell said that he is looking forward to working with the kids at JCHS.
"We have some good kids in the school system. I like kids, that's why I became a teacher," he said.
McConnell added that there is an obvious maturity change from middle school to high school.
"I have taught mostly freshman and sophomores. From freshmen to sixth graders there is a huge jump in maturity," McConnell said. "I like this age group, but I am more suited for the high school aged kids. I tend to communicate more effectively with that age group."
McConnell said that his job duties at the high school will be similar to the duties he performs at the middle school. He currently is in charge of discipline, case conferences and special education.
"I will have a lot more duties; you double the population you double the duties," McConnell said. "It will be a more intense job and a fast paced job."
McConnell said that he wants to make it a priority to attend more school events and get out in the halls to have more contact with students.
"If I only handled discipline I would have a negative view of things," he said. "When I can have some non-discipline contact with kids things tend to go better. I am big on the people side of the job and establishing working relationships with the teachers and support staff."
Growing up in Huntington he attended Huntington North High School which was formerly "a big Jay County rival," McConnell said.
He attended BSU for his undergraduate and master's degrees.
After graduating from BSU, he worked for one year at the Huntington County Community School Corporation Transition Center. In 1999, he began teaching U.S. History at Huntington North High School until 2004. He also coached girls soccer and competed against Jay County teams several times.
A Bluffton resident, he and his wife Felicia have five children that range in ages 2 to 14.[[In-content Ad]]
Newly named JCHS principal Jeremy Gulley, 34, and JCHS assistant principal/dean of students Sean McConnell, 40, are looking forward to the changes and challenges that will come with their new positions in the 2007-08 school year.
As dean of students/assistant principal, Gully said that his focus has mainly been on maintaining order at the school, which has approximately 1,200 students. With his promotion to principal, his focus will change from the disciplinary part of the job to more interaction with teachers. He will also have more of a hand in preparing students for the work world.
"We believe a diploma isn't an end point but the start point," Gulley said. "We are entering an information age ... the challenge is to prepare students for that. It requires more education (after high school)."
Gulley also wants to implement a program using technology that gives parents access to information about their student's performance.
One of his three goals for his new position is be part of creating a web-based program that allows parents to have access to their child's grades and attendance records online.
"This is an example of integrating technology in daily routines," Gulley said.
He plans to work on creating this program during the 2007-08 school year and be ready to implement it for the 2008-09 school year.
Another goal that Gulley would like to see ready to go for the 2008-09 school year, is the creation of a freshman academy. This program will divide freshman into three groups similar to academic teams at the middle schools, giving students common core teachers throughout the day.
"A school with 1,200 students is a big school and while there are some great opportunities, it can also leave some students behind," he added.
Gully has another goal that he hopes to implement by the start of school in August that will give students a chance to learn outside of the classroom.
"Jay County has 250 non-profit organizations. I would like to see seniors (perform six hours of community service) their senior year, to give back to the community that has given to them," Gulley said. "It's a life changing experience."
Gulley would like to assign government students to take part in a community service learning opportunity during their last year at JCHS.
He has been working with JCHS staff members on these and other goals and is looking forward to continuing work this summer and into the start of his new position, which becomes effective on July 1.
"Our staff is growing younger every year. They bring new energy and ideas, with the veteran teachers also expressing a need to contribute," Gulley said. "That is the biggest strength of this school community. Things grow from that."
Gulley began teaching American and U.S. history at JCHS in 1996.
"At the time, I was the first new hire and the youngest teacher in the (history) department since the school was built in 1975," Gulley said.
He taught at JCHS for two years, taught history for three years at West Jay Middle School, then served as the assistant principal at East Jay Middle School for two years.
This is Gully's fourth year as dean of students at JCHS.
"I have gotten a chance to know the community both east and west. I have had some good experiences all the way around," Gulley said. "I am gratified that the superintendent and the (school) board felt confident to place those within our (school) system in these positions."
A Blackford High School graduate, he graduated from Ball State University in Muncie with his masters degree in political science and school administration.
Gulley, his wife Jennifer and their sons, Liam, 5 and Connor, 4, live near Montpelier. He is also a 17-year member of the Army National Guard.
He encourages parents or members of the community to contact him by email at [email protected] and said he is looking forward to seeing parents and students at registration in early August.
As Gulley steps into the role of principal, McConnell will be picking up where Gulley left off as assistant principal/dean of students.
McConnell worked in the Jay School Corporation since 2004 when he became assistant principal at EJMS.
"The people are great (at EJMS)," McConnell said. "That's one hard thing about it. The kids and staff are great. I have built a lot of relationships with people here. But I probably already know two thirds of the freshmen, sophomores and juniors (at JCHS) because I got to know them (at EJMS)."
McConnell said that he is looking forward to working with the kids at JCHS.
"We have some good kids in the school system. I like kids, that's why I became a teacher," he said.
McConnell added that there is an obvious maturity change from middle school to high school.
"I have taught mostly freshman and sophomores. From freshmen to sixth graders there is a huge jump in maturity," McConnell said. "I like this age group, but I am more suited for the high school aged kids. I tend to communicate more effectively with that age group."
McConnell said that his job duties at the high school will be similar to the duties he performs at the middle school. He currently is in charge of discipline, case conferences and special education.
"I will have a lot more duties; you double the population you double the duties," McConnell said. "It will be a more intense job and a fast paced job."
McConnell said that he wants to make it a priority to attend more school events and get out in the halls to have more contact with students.
"If I only handled discipline I would have a negative view of things," he said. "When I can have some non-discipline contact with kids things tend to go better. I am big on the people side of the job and establishing working relationships with the teachers and support staff."
Growing up in Huntington he attended Huntington North High School which was formerly "a big Jay County rival," McConnell said.
He attended BSU for his undergraduate and master's degrees.
After graduating from BSU, he worked for one year at the Huntington County Community School Corporation Transition Center. In 1999, he began teaching U.S. History at Huntington North High School until 2004. He also coached girls soccer and competed against Jay County teams several times.
A Bluffton resident, he and his wife Felicia have five children that range in ages 2 to 14.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD