Administration

Principal Jolene Jackson

EMAIL: JACKSONJOL@pcsb.org

“Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang!”

To the Staff, Parents, Students, Families, and Community:

As I settle into my new office, I unpacked an item that has followed me throughout my career. It is my high school diploma. As I picked it up, great memories came flooding in. My school colors were blue and gold, and our mascot was the Mustang. It was a full-circle moment for me. Here I am again, cheering for the marvelous Mustangs, and I can still hear the echo of my high school fight song, "The Blue and Gold Forever." So yes, “Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang!”

I am honored to serve as the principal of Oakhurst Elementary School as I begin my 25th year in education. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving students, families, and educators as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, and district leader. It feels good to be home again in the principalship at Oakhurst.

I want you to know what drives me and who inspires me. At the heart of my work is a simple belief: every child deserves to be known, valued, and to learn beyond what our eyes can see. I believe learning unlocks possibility by building confidence, nurturing potential, and helping children discover who they are becoming.

Long before I became an educator, Mr. Fred Rogers, someone many of us know and love, helped shape that belief through his reminder that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for. As the principal of a neighborhood school, I am inspired by that same sentiment. One of the things I already love most about Oakhurst is the deep pride and connection shared by students, families, staff, and our neighbors. It is truly a special community, and I am honored to be part of it.

When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, writing, gardening, and listening to music. According to Spotify, my listening age this past year was 76 years old! Don't let that fool you, though. While I love 50s and 60s jazz, I am mostly happy listening to my favorite 90s jams. My main hobby is what I call "curating beauty with flowers and plants," which is simply a sophisticated way of saying that I spend far too much money on flowers and plants and happily devote many, many hours to picking weeds.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Oakhurst community. I look forward to getting to know each of you and beginning this exciting journey together. I will see you at our Meet the Teacher events. I will see you at the gate!