Dr. Ryan Jackson is Maury County Public School’s Principal of the Year.
The Mt. Pleasant High School principal was selected by his peers at the Southern Middle Tennessee school district for the title.
“I am beyond humbled and proud to be recognized by my peers,” Jackson said in a press release. “We are in, undoubtedly, one of the toughest stretches of public education we have ever faced, so to be recognized for leadership and to represent Mt. Pleasant, and Maury County Public Schools during this time is something I will cherish; for a lifetime.”
Jackson has served in public education for more than 15 years.
He joined MCPS in 2016 to serve as the executive lead principal of the city’s elementary, middle and elementary schools as it became Tennessee’s first and PreK-12 STEAM campus.
Under his leadership the campus united under a single identity — The Mount.
In the position, he has forged partnerships with community leaders and area businesses, including a BMC Metals welding lab, the Lee Company TN Pathways partnership for HVAC, the first esports team at Maury County Schools, and the distinction of being the only PreK through 12 STEM designation.
He has also encouraged educators to think outside the box of traditional education models and given them the leeway to transform their classrooms.
Jackson said his endeavors in public education fuel his passion for serving the underdog and ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education and purposeful, lucrative post-secondary opportunities.
“Dr. Jackson embodies leadership traits that empower and energize. He is at the forefront of educational leadership with his personable style and ability to empower those around him,” said Michael Hickman, superintendent of Maury County schools. “Maury County Public Schools is proud to have Jackson honored as the Principal of the Year.”
Jackson has served in both urban and rural schools, traveled to China with Vanderbilt University, given a TED TALK, and served as keynote speaker for Junior Achievement, Advanced Education/Cognia, Leadership U, and both Kentucky and North Dakota’s public education departments.
He received both his master’s and doctorate degrees from Trevecca Nazarene University.
Along with being a principal, Jackson serves on the Maury Alliance Board of Directors. He leads the executive leadership team for Kids On Stage of Maury County, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap between public-private partnerships in Middle Tennessee. Jackson has also founded Fit Leaders, LLC, a leadership development organization that supports all leaders from all industries on their road to living and leading a healthy lifestyle.
He is a member of the Leadership Middle Tennessee Class of 2020.
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