Jackson Public Schools has announced the hiring of Monica Pierce as Principal for Instruction at Jackson High School. After a statewide search, Pierce, a 1994 graduate of Jackson High School, was chosen and will assume the role starting immediately. She will take over the position vacated by the retirement of Barbara Baird-Pauli.
After graduating from Jackson High School, Pierce went on to complete degrees at Jackson Community College in 1997 and Spring Arbor College in 1999. She did her student teaching at Middle School at Parkside in 1999. Pierce began her teaching career as an ELA teacher with Ann Arbor Public Schools from 2000-2001 before transitioning to Jackson High School where she taught English from 2001-2011. While at Jackson High School, she earned a Master of Arts in K-12 Educational Administration from Michigan State University; she also holds a State of Michigan K-12 Administrator certification. She was an Associate Principal at Middle School at Parkside from 2011-2014 before moving back to Jackson High School to assume the role of Associate Principal, one she would hold until acquiring her new position.
In addition to her extensive experience in Jackson Public Schools, Pierce is the advisor for numerous clubs, serves on the district-wide Climate and Culture committee, and she is a member of the JHS School Improvement Team, JHS Bond Development Committee, JHS Laundry Initiative, Jackson College Alumni Council, 2018 Elnora V. Moorman Dignity and Determination Award winner, and a MASSP certified Administrative Mentor and Coach.
She is eager to start her new role and continue developing trusting relationships with students, families and staff while improving the overall climate at Jackson High School.
“As the Principal of Instruction for Jackson High School, I have the opportunity to go beyond helping the individual students assigned to me as a class and work to maintain and enhance a safe, equitable, high quality, learning environment for all students and faculty,” Pierce said. “I will continue to make Jackson High the best high school in the county!”
With more than a decade of experience in Jackson Public Schools and strong relationships developed in the district, Pierce was a frontrunner from the beginning.
“Monica Pierce blew the competition away,” said Superintendent Jeff Beal. “Her advocacy for the staff and students at Jackson High were defining qualities that I know will be first and foremost in her mind as we enter the 2019-2020 school year.”