Annual Report-2023-24 - Flipbook - Page 29
A CLOSER LOOK
Learn more about the
Teaching Fellows Program:
Dr. Jarius Jones Appointed Associate
Superintendent of Human Resources
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is excited to announce Dr. Jarius Jones as
the new Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, e昀昀ec琀椀ve July 1, 2024.
Dr. Jones previously served as Director of Classi昀椀ed Human Resources for
Shawnee Mission School District and Principal at Center Middle School in
Kansas City, Missouri. His leadership roles include Principal at Dr. Mar琀椀n Luther
King Jr. Elementary and Vice Principal at Northeast High School in Kansas City
Public Schools.
A Kansas City, Kansas na琀椀ve, Dr. Jones began his teaching career at Wyando琀琀e
High School and has worked at F.L. Schlagle High School, Washington High
School, and Sumner Academy of Arts and Science.
“I’m humbled and excited to return home. My experiences in three school
systems have prepared me to support student achievement and enhance
working condi琀椀ons for all employees,” said Dr. Jones.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Jones back to KCKPS. His deep community 琀椀es
and professional exper琀椀se make him a tremendous asset to our team,” said
Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubble昀椀eld.
Dr. Jarius Jones’ Connec琀椀on with the Teaching
Fellows Program
“
My journey as an
educa琀椀onal leader in
three school systems
has prepared me to
help increase student
achievement and
improve working
condi琀椀ons for all
employees.
My experience as part of the 昀椀rst cohort of the Teaching Fellows Program was
genuinely unique. At the 琀椀me, I was the only fellow with an undergraduate
degree in educa琀椀on, but due to family responsibili琀椀es, I couldn’t complete the
tradi琀椀onal student teaching and cer琀椀昀椀ca琀椀on year. In the 2001 summer school
program, I gained valuable hands-on experience teaching in an urban school,
guided by veteran educators who deeply understood the educa琀椀onal landscape
of my beloved district.
The camaraderie we formed as the “pioneering par琀椀cipants” of this new
program was profound. Though ini琀椀ally met with skep琀椀cism by some tradi琀椀onal
educators, it soon became apparent that my fellow par琀椀cipants were an asset.
Coming from diverse career paths before answering the call to teach, they
brought real-world knowledge to the classroom. In fact, my late mother, Velma
Jones, joined the second cohort, along with many of my friends who also
became educators through the program.
I am forever grateful for the opportunity to ful昀椀ll my life’s calling: to teach.
- Dr. Jarius Jones,
Assistant Superintendent
of Human Resources
28
