Willie Jeffries School of Excellence (WJSE) announces the promotion of Mrs. La’Aysha Jones, a proven leader at the school, to serve as Assistant Principal. Drawing on a decade of experience in education and her prior role as WJSE’s Special Education Coordinator, Mrs. Jones brings a strong commitment to student support and instructional excellence.
Mrs. Jones shared that the most exciting part about moving into this new leadership role is the opportunity to “provide high-quality education and support to students who have historically been underserved or overlooked.”
“I look forward to engaging with the community and building partnerships that uplift and empower the families and neighborhoods we serve.”
Mrs. Jones describes her leadership style as grounded in empathy, understanding, and coaching. “I believe in meeting people where they are, listening first, and building relationships based on trust,” she said. “I see myself as a servant leader—someone who lifts others up and helps them achieve their potential.”
Once she moves into her new role, Mrs. Jones plans to continue to show her commitment to both high expectations and compassion. “I understand that success doesn’t look the same for every student or teacher, and I’m here to support individual growth. I want to inspire hope and progress in everything we do.”
Her top priority for the coming school year is strengthening Tier 1 instruction. By leveraging data from progress monitoring to drive small group instruction, Mrs. Jones plans to help meet the diverse learning needs of students, improve academic outcomes, and foster a more supportive environment.
WJSE Principal Dr. Fabien McGill expressed the school’s excitement in promoting Mrs. Jones to the Assistant Principal position. “We witnessed what Mrs. Jones was capable of in her role as Special Education Coordinator, and we are confident that this compassion and dedication to the students will carry over into this new role,” Dr. McGill said. “Her depth of experience and servant leadership approach align perfectly with our mission to provide an excellent education for every student.”
Mrs. Jones’ appointment underscores WJSE’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality education to every child and building a strong, supportive school community.
Willie Jeffries School of Excellence is a tuition-free, public charter school serving grades K-7 in Orangeburg and beyond. It is authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine and managed by the Berkeley Charter Education Association. WJSE focuses on academics, school culture, and community in order to achieve its goal that every student receives a world-class education. For more information about Willie Jeffries School of Excellence, visit www.wjschool.org.
