Schools

Clearmount Principal Barb Jones Prepares to Say Goodbye to North Canton City School District

Barb Jones, an educator and administrator for 39 years, will retire at the end of the school year

She never intended to be a principal until others told her she’d be good at it.

But, boy, Principal Barb Jones is glad that when those supporters spoke, she listened.

“I would never have done it without someone saying something to me,” she said. “Never, ever.”

Now, with 39 years as a teacher and administrator behind her, she’ll say goodbye to the district at the end of the school year as she heads into retirement.

She recently talked with North Canton Patch about her experiences at the school and what motivated her to enter the field of education.

“It just sounded like a natural thing to do. I was the oldest of seven kids, too,” she said. “I think part of it was I just liked the school environment and just naturally gravitated toward that.”

Thinking back to her accomplishments at Clearmount, Jones said she’s put emphasis on students with special needs. And, in turn, all students at Clearmount have become more inclusive and welcoming and open to others and their differences.

“One of the things I’ve been most proud of is when our Clearmount students are out in the mall or at sporting events or even when they go to middle school, when someone looks different, we’re not going to point at them, we’re not going to stare at them, we’re not going to make fun of them.”

“It was a priority to celebrate them, their successes, help our typical kids include them — truly include them — in playing, in working and learning in the classroom.”

She said North Canton elementaries all have special education resource rooms, but Clearmount's is unique in that it includes students from all North Canton schools. That's because of the excellent programming the school provides, she said.

She also said she tries to celebrate and recognize teachers and other staff when they go beyond what’s expected of them. She pointed to the fifth-grade teachers who help put together the weekly video announcements called CNN (short for Clearmount News Now).

“It’s one of those things we all look forward to on Wednesdays,” she said.

As far as challenges go, Jones has seen technology change in her 39-year career. (There was a time when schools didn’t have computers, she pointed out.)

She’s had to keep up with it herself, as well as keep the school and its students up to speed. With that comes challenges in paying for technology, a problem schools around the country have struggled with, she said.

Yet another hurdle is adjusting to the changing demographic of students and families. More and more are requiring free and reduced lunches. About 30 percent of students are eligible for those lunches this year, she said.

But one thing's stayed consistent throughout the years.

“I think all of our families are wonderful. I think our families here at Clearmount are very interested in their kids’ education. I can’t think of a parent that doesn’t support their child in some way (with) their education.”

Julie Nelson, a fifth-grade teacher at Clearmount, said Jones was always professional and a huge supporter of the teachers at the school.

“She allows us to do our jobs to the best of our ability,” Nelson said. “She’s respected by parents, staff and students alike.”

“She definitely has a positive attitude and good sense of humor, which I think the staff appreciates. We can laugh at the end of the day when stressful situations arise.”

Superintendent Michael Gallina — who has joked with others at North Canton Board of Education meetings, asking “do we have to?” when approving Jones’ retirement — said he’ll miss her leadership, energy and humility.

“Barb is the consummate educator who has the ability to lead the business side of the operation in perfect harmony with the caring side of leading staff and children,” he said.

“Barb’s had 39 years in the education business, and she was as effective in year 39 as she was in year one. She has the same type of energy and commitment.”

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Gallina said he hopes to have a new principal in place by the end of May, and school officials will look for internal candidates.


Extras:

Name: Barb Jones
Resides in: Green
Family: Husband Rick Jones, daughter Sara and son Nathan
Years at Clearmount Elementary: 15
Years in Education: 39
Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in curriculum instruction from

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