JEFCOED Journal August 27, 2025
Superintendent's Message
JEFCOED Family,
We have had a great start to the school year! We are about three weeks into the new school year, and the energy in the schools has been electric! I’ve been to several campuses already, and everywhere I go there are children excited about learning and educators excited about teaching!
We are about to begin a very important process as it relates to the direction of our district. I realize the words “strategic planning” probably don’t set off a wave of excitement for most people. However, charting our steps for the next five years is an extremely important part of what we do in JEFCOED.
I’m an old coach. So, let me put it this way: we are currently designing the game plan that we’re going to run. And in order to win, I need your help! Whether you are a parent or an employee, you should have received a ParentSquare email containing a survey link. If you can’t find it or you deleted it, don’t worry, we’ll be sending it out several more times. Those surveys will be one data source we will use in evaluating and updating our strategic plan for the next five years.
This is not my school district. It’s everyone’s school district. From the teachers, to the students, to the parents, to the administrators, to the 23 city councils and mayors we work with, we all play a role in JEFCOED’s success. We need your feedback in letting us know what we’re doing well, and even areas where we may improve. Please answer the questions accurately and honestly. I cannot stress the importance of shareholder input in this process.
To that end, we will also hold a series of community town halls. We will have four meetings, one in each signature academy zone. The dates and times are listed below. However, if you can’t make it to the one in your area, feel free to join us at one of the other locations. The bottom line is that we want to hear from you!
As I close this week, I did want to give a shout out to our Jefferson County Council PTA. I got to meet with them during their leadership training Wednesday morning. It is so encouraging to see so many people, from every corner of the district, show up and put in the time and effort to better our schools and our students! Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Dr. Gonsoulin
September 1st - Labor Day
September 2nd - E-Learning Day
September 4th - Progress Reports Go Home
October 10th - End of First Nine Weeks
National Dog Day
National Dog Day was Tuesday, and we’re celebrated one of our favorite pups, Dude! Dude is enjoying his fourth year as a therapy dog at Grantswood Community School! Grantswood’s counselor, Cricket Miller, tells us students look forward to his visits each Friday! From increasing attendance and GREAT behavior, to decreasing fear and anxiety, Cricket says Dude is a huge asset to GCS! We appreciate Dude and all of our special furry friends! Be sure to comment a pic of your pup below!
PAW-some Energy
Adamsville Elementary School moms kicked off last Friday morning carline with PAW-some energy! From the bus ramp to the car line, students were greeted with warm smiles, high-fives, and plenty of encouragement to kick off the day in the best way. A heartfelt THANK YOU to every amazing woman who showed up to make a difference!! The Tiger Dads are on duty this week!
She Always Shines!
From the bus route, to the pageant stage, Pamela Garrett always shines! We’re so proud of Ms. Garrett for placing first runner-up at the Ms. Senior Jefferson County Pageant this summer! When she’s not competing, you can find her serving as a bus aide at Grantswood Community!
Thank you Darryl!
There aren’t enough words to describe the impact Darryl Walker has made in his more than 40 years of working for the Jefferson County School District! We congratulate Darryl on his retirement, but will miss him dearly! Darryl began working for JEFCOED right after graduating from Shades Valley High School, and, fun fact, the principal who hired him attended Darryl’s retirement party! We had the best time celebrating one of the most kindhearted people to ever walk these halls. Darryl, thank you for the countless hours you dedicated to improving the lives of students and employees in our district. Your hard work and genuine kindness inspire us all! Congratulations!
Leaders On And Off The Football Field!
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