This is a year of firsts for Jewett - her first year as an elementary principal and her first year at TK Schools. Jewett is making a commitment to being visible to students and staff. “I’m getting in all the classrooms and I love going down to lunch with the students. I want them to get to know me and I want to get to know them.”
She is following the Capture Kids Hearts lessons on character and the character trait for each month - like responsibility, respect and kindness. Each month, students displaying those character traits will be selected by staff members and invited to have lunch with Jewett.
“I try every day to get into the cafeteria for lunch and learn more of the kids' names. Building that rapport and making those relationships with students and families is key. It’s easy to see there are already such deep roots and a strong foundation here.”
She is building off that existing foundation to inspire the staff at Lee. Before school started, Jewett asked each teacher what grounds them and what makes them grow. Using their answers as inspiration, she put the words together as the trunk and leaves of a healthy, growing tree with the title, “Our strong roots grow us to great heights.”
She’s creating a large version of the design put up in the staff lounge to serve as a daily reminder. “It’s important to make your goals visible every day. Amazing things happen here at Lee, and we just want to help keep growing and blossoming even more than we already are.”
Jewett said she’s been impressed with everything at Lee and in the community so far. “The biggest surprise is how many people have been here for generations and how many are interconnected with families here. It shows me that families come here and stay here. It’s a true testament to a strong community. It’s a place where people want to be.”
That, she said, comes as no surprise. “I did a lot of research before I threw my hat in the ring for any principal position. I didn’t want to go just anywhere. I knew this was a good place before I ever applied and I was very picky about my process. What I see here are outstanding teachers who are so good and do things so naturally in the classroom, they naturally put kids first.”
Prior to coming to TK, Jewett was an elementary teacher in Otsego Public Schools for 16 years. “I’ve taught upper and lower elementary grades. I’ve coached and just had a variety of roles working with kids,” she said. She also served as a Title 1 Teacher/Instructional coach for two years and was a K-5 instructional coach for 2 years.
“I came from a district I loved and still love, but there was a calling to be a leader and I felt like I needed a new challenge,” she said of her move into administration.
Jewett said working in education is more than just a job for her. “It’s what I always wanted to do. I think education is a calling. You feel it. It is something that is almost a part of you,” she said.
“I’m excited to be here and I’ve gotten so much positive feedback from the staff and community already. I just couldn’t ask for a better start to the new year,” she said.
What She Reads: "Mostly job-related educational material right now,” she admits. But when she has time, she enjoys a good suspense/mystery book or a good summer beach read.
How She Handles Stress: “I work out every morning. I love spending time with my husband and three kids, ages 11, 8 and 4. And one of our favorite things to do is spend time outside, especially camping and being at the beach. We prioritize family time.”
Favorite Genre of Music: Country music
Favorite Artist: Zach Bryan
What Would a Perfect Day Look Like: “A day at the beach with my family from sunrise to sunset. I love sunsets on the lake.”
What Superpower She Would Like Most to Have: “The ability to freeze time and just be able to relive special moments over and over again.”
Favorite Food: Rice - all kinds
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Dessert: Scotcheroos
Best Part of Her Day: “Lunch when I get to be with the kids and just see all their authentic personalities that come out when you just sit down and talk to them. It gives me time to see kids for who they really are.”
Biggest Challenge She Faces Right Now: “Understanding the systems and structures in place here and making sure we meet every student’s needs every day. This is a really good place to be, and I see it every day.”