How has working as an educator at Barnett Shoals and Timothy Road Elementary Schools affected your approach to the role of interim superintendent?
I think that if you cannot connect to the work that our (school administrators) do every day when you're sitting in a district leadership position, then you are disconnected from the heart and soul of our district. Our principals are the ones that really have that direct impact on students and student achievement because they are the direct supports for our teachers. It's really just a trickle-down effect. There was a lot of ways in which I was able to grow as a leader in the district by serving as an assistant principal (at TRES from 2007-11) and a principal (at BSES from 2011-19). (I learned) lessons that I take with me in any role, (such as) continuing to look for ways to grow and expand in my knowledge and how I'm able to support the building leaders with the work that they do every single day.
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
What caused you to pursue a careerat the district level after working as an educator and in school administrator positions?
My trajectory to the district office was not something that I necessarily had planned out. I didn't have a timeline because I never wanted to move into any leadership position for the sake of doing it. It was a tough decision because I loved being a building leader and having that connection with the school family. (However), I felt like the work that I could do at the district-level would contribute to the growth of our district as a whole, and that resonated with me at a great degree. That let me know that, “OK, this was the right time to make this move.” I feel like I'm walking in my purpose, and I've made very careful decisions and thought about it from the lens of, "How (are) we serving the students of our district?" That ultimately is what really pushed me to go ahead and say, "Yes, this is the right time and it's the right position for me."
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
What are specific ways you want to contribute to the CCSD?
My trajectory to the district office was not something that I necessarily had planned out. I didn't have a timeline because I never wanted to move into any leadership position for the sake of doing it. It was a tough decision because I loved being a building leader and having that connection with the school family. (However), I felt like the work that I could do at the district-level would contribute to the growth of our district as a whole, and that resonated with me at a great degree. That let me know that, “OK, this was the right time to make this move.” I feel like I'm walking in my purpose, and I've made very careful decisions and thought about it from the lens of, "How (are) we serving the students of our district?" That ultimately is what really pushed me to go ahead and say, "Yes, this is the right time and it's the right position for me."
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
How is the Georgia School Boards Association’s search for a permanent Superintendent going to affect your tenure as interim superintendent over the next year?
I signed a contract with the (CCSD) Board (of Education) to serve in the interim position from July (1), 2025 through June 30, 2026, so the only way (the Georgia School Boards Association) really impacts it is if they're able to identify someone to serve in the permanent position. If there's someone else that comes in (as Superintendent), then my interim contract would potentially end when that person starts. I would continue to support them during that transition, and then I would roll back to my previous position of Deputy Superintendent (of Academics and Student Supports). (The) GSBA is here to create the structure and the process to support the Board in selecting an individual that would be the best fit for what they're looking for in a Superintendent, and offer the space to ensure that that's done in a transparent manner, involves stakeholders and truly allows our school board members to make an informed decision.
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
What do you want the Athens-Clarke County community to know about you?
The biggest thing that people need to know about me is that I am very passionate about (the) CCSD. I am committed to (seeing) our school district grow for many years to come, and making sure that what we’re providing for our students is truly in line with what they need to be prepared for in today’s workforce. Our society has changed tremendously through the years and through the generations, and (by) recognizing that, we are preparing our students for beyond their K-12 experiences. We cannot teach students based upon what we’re used to, how we learned or what we knew in our day and age. We have to teach and prepare them for what is to come in their generation. As (interim) superintendent, that is what I am truly focused on: “How are we evolving as a school district to make sure that we are prepared to meet the ever-changing needs of our students?”
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
Dr. Jennifer Scott
Ireland McCage
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Transcript
How has working as an educator at Barnett Shoals and Timothy Road Elementary Schools affected your approach to the role of interim superintendent?
I think that if you cannot connect to the work that our (school administrators) do every day when you're sitting in a district leadership position, then you are disconnected from the heart and soul of our district. Our principals are the ones that really have that direct impact on students and student achievement because they are the direct supports for our teachers. It's really just a trickle-down effect. There was a lot of ways in which I was able to grow as a leader in the district by serving as an assistant principal (at TRES from 2007-11) and a principal (at BSES from 2011-19). (I learned) lessons that I take with me in any role, (such as) continuing to look for ways to grow and expand in my knowledge and how I'm able to support the building leaders with the work that they do every single day.
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
What caused you to pursue a careerat the district level after working as an educator and in school administrator positions?
My trajectory to the district office was not something that I necessarily had planned out. I didn't have a timeline because I never wanted to move into any leadership position for the sake of doing it. It was a tough decision because I loved being a building leader and having that connection with the school family. (However), I felt like the work that I could do at the district-level would contribute to the growth of our district as a whole, and that resonated with me at a great degree. That let me know that, “OK, this was the right time to make this move.” I feel like I'm walking in my purpose, and I've made very careful decisions and thought about it from the lens of, "How (are) we serving the students of our district?" That ultimately is what really pushed me to go ahead and say, "Yes, this is the right time and it's the right position for me."
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
What are specific ways you want to contribute to the CCSD?
My trajectory to the district office was not something that I necessarily had planned out. I didn't have a timeline because I never wanted to move into any leadership position for the sake of doing it. It was a tough decision because I loved being a building leader and having that connection with the school family. (However), I felt like the work that I could do at the district-level would contribute to the growth of our district as a whole, and that resonated with me at a great degree. That let me know that, “OK, this was the right time to make this move.” I feel like I'm walking in my purpose, and I've made very careful decisions and thought about it from the lens of, "How (are) we serving the students of our district?" That ultimately is what really pushed me to go ahead and say, "Yes, this is the right time and it's the right position for me."
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
How is the Georgia School Boards Association’s search for a permanent Superintendent going to affect your tenure as interim superintendent over the next year?
I signed a contract with the (CCSD) Board (of Education) to serve in the interim position from July (1), 2025 through June 30, 2026, so the only way (the Georgia School Boards Association) really impacts it is if they're able to identify someone to serve in the permanent position. If there's someone else that comes in (as Superintendent), then my interim contract would potentially end when that person starts. I would continue to support them during that transition, and then I would roll back to my previous position of Deputy Superintendent (of Academics and Student Supports). (The) GSBA is here to create the structure and the process to support the Board in selecting an individual that would be the best fit for what they're looking for in a Superintendent, and offer the space to ensure that that's done in a transparent manner, involves stakeholders and truly allows our school board members to make an informed decision.
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent
What do you want the Athens-Clarke County community to know about you?
The biggest thing that people need to know about me is that I am very passionate about (the) CCSD. I am committed to (seeing) our school district grow for many years to come, and making sure that what we’re providing for our students is truly in line with what they need to be prepared for in today’s workforce. Our society has changed tremendously through the years and through the generations, and (by) recognizing that, we are preparing our students for beyond their K-12 experiences. We cannot teach students based upon what we’re used to, how we learned or what we knew in our day and age. We have to teach and prepare them for what is to come in their generation. As (interim) superintendent, that is what I am truly focused on: “How are we evolving as a school district to make sure that we are prepared to meet the ever-changing needs of our students?”
Dr. Jennifer Scott
CCSD Interim Superintendent