Schoolhouse Flock
In our new series titled "Schoolhouse Flock" we highlight local schools and the Ospreys who run them.
Clay High
Located on Highway 16 in Green Cove Springs, Clay High School is the fastest growing high school in Clay County with a population of 1,800 students, 100 teachers and 95 staff members. 成人AV视频 alumna Jen Halter (’10, ’23), a 19-year educator, serves as principal for the school. She said, “成人AV视频 has prepared me to be successful in this current role as Principal of Clay High, as an advocate at the state and national level for educational leaders, and as an aspiring district leader and future superintendent.”
Halter is joined by many other Ospreys, including Ciara Viner-Boots (‘15), Joshua Persinger (‘14), Wale Leyimu (‘08), Cole Cottet (‘23), Dana Brock, Bria Havener (’04, ’06, ‘07), Olivia Sweat, Susan Horn (’98, ‘98), Kimberlee Roberts (‘23), Caleb Milligan (’14, ‘15), William Weeks (’13, ‘15), and Lacey Elrod (‘06).
Molding Clay
Halter started her educator journey at Orange Park Junior High teaching eighth grade students. She also served as the Head Girls Track Coach in addition to starting the Cross-Country program at the junior high level. She also served as sponsor for the Debate Club and Writing Club. After eight years of teaching and coaching, she moved up to assistant principal at Green Cove Springs Junior High, followed soon after by a promotion to vice principal, and finally principal.
She led Green Cove Springs Junior High for six years, and in that time, the school became a Best and Brightest School, a School of Excellence, and increased in school grade every year, all while starting to close achievement gaps in reading and math for Black and Hispanic students. In 2021, Halter received awards for the 2021 Clay County Principal of the Year and the 2021 Florida Principal of the Year.
Later that year, she joined Clay High and is currently in her fourth year as principal. In the last three years, Clay High went from the most underperforming high school in the district with 52% grade of a C to a 65% grade of an A. This past year, Clay High had the highest learning gains and lower quartile learning gains in reading in the history of the school.
Clay High Study Guide
Steeped in a tradition and a huge legacy of leaders and a community of alumni, the Clay High Blue Devils recently earned an A-rating on the state assessments. Clay High has a very high-performing athletics program that boasts many state titles, national placements and famous alumni, including Olympic swimmer Caeleb Dressel, World Series Champions Dane Dunning and Jake Dunning, and former NFL players, Nolan Carroll, Will Holden and Super Bowl Champion Cliff Avril. They also have many alumni serving as local and state leaders.
Clay High offers many pathways and academies, including offerings in criminal justice, veterinarian technology, digital design, VyStar Academy, introduction to teaching, agriculture, auto mechanic, carpentry, 911 dispatch, computer science and health science with CNA and EKG certifications.
Their FFA chapter is currently ranked in the top three finalists in the nation for a Model of Excellence Chapter award and their NJROTC unit just received accolades as a National Distinguished Chapter. With their large veteran alumni base, Halter honored their legacy by creating the Military Hall of Fame in the science wing, which displays seals from each branch of the military and every alumni who has served or will serve.
Educating the Educator
As she pursued her undergraduate studies at Florida State, she realized she wanted to be an educator. Her father taught high school science before becoming an administrator. “I want to provide positive learning experiences for all students,” Halter said. “If everyone can look back fondly on their time in school, I feel that there would be more support from the parents and community.” Her favorite part of the job is celebrating the students and all the wonderful things they’re doing in and out of the classroom. She said, “It brings me the most joy to watch our students come in as freshmen, watch them grow throughout their four years, and graduate with options for life beyond high school.”
While at Orange Park Junior High, her principal encouraged her to get her master’s degree in educational leadership, and the 成人AV视频 College of Education and Human Services recently started a local group that allowed her to learn alongside her peers. She said, “It was convenient and I loved the idea of a cohort of learners from the same district together.”
Not only did she earn her master’s at The Graduate School , but she went on to earn her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, as well. “Both degrees have helped prepare me for success in my career through opening doors to promotions and understanding how to view instructional practice and leadership through the lens of current research,” she said.
Her dissertation is an autoethnography and the first to be published at 成人AV视频, and she wants to thank her doctoral committee for allowing that to happen. Dr. David Hoppey served as an advocate during the doctoral process and remains her mentor. Dr. Meghan Parkinson, Dr. Dan Dinsmore and Dr. Robert Lake, encouraged her to push her thinking. And finally, Dr. Linda Skrla who ushered her cohort into the doctoral journey, Dr. Carolyne Ali-Kahn who continues to guide and encourage her, and Dr. Christian Winterbottom who “was such a delight to have as a professor.”
(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 11/13/2024)
Seabreeze Elementary
By now, our audience has likely seen us brag about our 成人AV视频 College of Education and Human Services alumni network. With so many talented educators locally, nationally and even globally, it’s hard not to get excited about all their accomplishments. As we focus on our University pillars of leadership and scholarship, we’d like to introduce our new series, #SchoolhouseFlock, where each month we dive into a new school led by Ospreys to give you the inside swoop.
Seabreeze Elementary Study Guide
Seabreeze Elementary is a neighborhood school located in Jacksonville Beach between JTB and Beach Boulevard. Led by alumna Aimee Kimball (MEd ‘11), Seabreeze services 530 students with 30 teachers on staff. Over half of their teachers have earned a degree from 成人AV视频, many of whom go above and beyond by sponsoring additional after-school activities such as Chess Club, Minecraft Club, Girls on the Run and much more. “I believe in both transparent and servant leadership,” Kimball said, “and I strive to be a supportive leader for my teachers and students.”
In addition to their faculty, Seabreeze is also supported by a phenomenal volunteer base through their nonprofit, Friends of Seabreeze. They help provide programming including STEM education, the Morning Mile run club and Kelp Club, focused on gardening and recycling. They even have a “SeaBroz” group that helps positive male role models become more involved with the school.
“Ultimately what I love about this school is how the heart of the community flows through our hallways,” Kimball said. “Everyone pours so much of their time and energy into our school, and we make a committed effort to give back to Jacksonville Beach.”
Any Way the Wind Blows
Originally from the “bootheel” of Missouri, a family of educators raised Kimball. Her mother worked as an art instructor and her father taught criminal justice courses for a high school vocational program, so her rural upbringing instilled in her community-based values and the importance of education. She did her undergraduate studies at Southeast Missouri State University, where she pursued everything from journalism to pharmacology to meteorology. Ultimately, she followed her parents and chose the educational field, which allowed her to utilize her strengths to develop the talents of others.
While she was thankful for where she grew up, she dreamed of being in a location with museums, concerts and sandy beaches. Jacksonville checked all those boxes and Duval County added another great educator to its roster. She taught at Lone Star Elementary in East Arlington for nine years, where she served as the math department lead and data coach. She felt a calling to do similar work at a larger scale, and many of her mentors and colleagues had gone through the 成人AV视频 COEHS educational leadership program.
After earning her master’s degree, she served a couple of years as the assistant principal at Neptune Beach Elementary before transferring to that same position at Seabreeze Elementary. The following year, she was promoted to principal. “The best part of this job is the people I serve – our children and their families,” Kimball said. “Students are funny, naturally inquisitive, and so inclusive and kind. To be able to nurture those qualities while teaching them foundational skills is priceless.
The Education Connection
As she looks back throughout her own education, she credits her 成人AV视频 professors and courses which prepared her for her principalship. Among them were Dr. Warren Hodge, Dr. Sandra Gupton and Dr. Mariane Beaton who covered topics ranging from education law, human resources, finance, research and the adult nature of learning. Kimball said, “There were several shuttle rides to the parking lot where we all sat fully saturated and completely exhausted, but we recognized how much we were learning and growing professionally.”
As mentioned earlier, currently 16 of the Seabreeze Elementary teachers have earned a degree from 成人AV视频: Brooke Axler (’99), Christina Chacon (’17), Carly Coffman (’10), Karen Johnson (’85, ’94), Cassandra Kyne (’04), April McFalls (’06), Tracy Pound (’95), Peter Priscott (’98), Melissa Remley (’04), Tricia Rigdon (’97, ’05), Lynsey (Parris) Ruffell (’13), Taylor Ruffell (’12), Jennifer Shepard (’15, ’22), Kelli (Conley) Tucker (’20), Tabitha Tuggle (’09) and Rachel Young (’06). One more Osprey is on her way as April Bonaventure (’25) approaches her graduation date.
“I believe education is both hard work and heart work—there are long hours, short days, and a lot of love put into these classrooms,” said Kimball. Her advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career in education is to listen to the calling. “You are so desperately needed,” she said. “Our children deserve brilliant, compassionate and ethical individuals to guide them to their future successes.”
(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 10/17/2024)