A familiar face is returning North New Summit School this year: Duane Jensen rejoins the staff as assistant principal.
Jensen taught science at North New Summit before moving to Carroll Academy, where he was administrative assistant and taught Bible and biology.
“I enjoyed being here the two years that I had been here previously, and I’m excited about being back in the system,” he said.
Jensen taught science for 17 years in the public schools before his first tenure at North New Summit. This year he will teach anatomy/physiology and chemistry.
Most of the people he worked with before at North New Summit are still there, and it’s a good group, he said.
“I know all the staff, the staff know me and we have a good relationship,” he said.
Principal Carl Thach has retired, and that means the duties will be shuffled somewhat among the administrators, Director Susan Floyd said. Jensen will have a variety of responsibilities in instruction, discipline, facilities management and other areas, she said.
“We’re excited for him to come back,” she said.
Floyd said some classroom and office computers have been updated for the new year, and some areas of the building have received new paint jobs.
North New Summit also will incorporate a new curriculum called Open Court for students from kindergarten through second grade. Open Court was added last year for grades three through six.
Floyd said she hopes the new playground for the elementary school will be finished sometime this year. The area has been selected, but the equipment has not been picked out yet, she said.
An archery club has been added for students in the junior high and high schools, with the help of a program of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Teachers begin work Aug. 1, and students’ first day is Aug. 6. Floyd said it appears enrollment will be about 85 students this year. It was about 90 at the beginning of last year.
“At the end of the year last year, we had around 120, and that’s what we’re hoping to get to as well through the year,” she said.
The original New Summit School, located in Jackson, was established in 1997, and the Greenwood campus opened in 2004.
• Contact David Monroe at 581-7236 or dmonroe@gwcommonwealth.com.
