Grand Rapids — Jessica Schwarz has a curious, scientific and analytical mind, well-adapted to evaluating and studying complex systems.
It’s a skill the researcher-turned-educator plans to use in her new role as principal of Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School.
“I really am a strategic thinker,” Schwarz said. “I appreciate thoughtful and intentional planning and strategizing in order to best meet the needs of the learners in the building.”
Schwarz got her professional start as a wildlife biologist. While working for the National Park Service, her passion for education was awakened when a park interpreter asked if she’d mind allowing school groups to tag along and see some of her research up close. She agreed, thinking it could be fun.
“That was just a game-changer for me,” she said. “I really fell in love with working with students.”
She was working in Hawaii at the time, and decided to pursue teaching through an alternative licensure program offered by the state.
Once licensed, she was off and running with her second career and newfound passion, quickly developing a holistic educational outlook.
“Students are dynamic and unique and multi-faceted and diverse, so I believe in creating educational spaces and classroom spaces that celebrate and encourage those assets … in whatever unique ways they come to us,” she said. “I’m a big proponent of social-emotional learning that’s intertwined with academics, so, how do we build social-emotional skills in order to be able to access rigorous learning opportunities?”
‘Every job, when we’re working with students, is incredibly important.’
— Cesar E. Chavez Elementary Principal Jessica Schwarz
Schwarz, who speaks fluent Spanish, is thrilled to be at Chavez; the school’s transitional bilingual model will allow her to focus on “ensuring our students have access to their full linguistic repertoire.”
What other positions have you held in education? Prior to returning to her home state of Michigan for the job at Chavez, Schwarz worked in a variety of roles for school districts in Hawaii, Colorado and overseas in Rome, Italy and Barcelona, Spain.
She spent 10 years teaching middle-school science before pivoting to administration and taking on positions as a resident principal, administrator of student support services, district instructional leader and elementary school principal.
What about jobs outside education? In addition to working for the National Park Service, Schwarz also interned with the United States Geological Survey and partnered with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
“It was anything from studying orchids in Puerto Rico to big-game wildlife in East Africa to birds in Hawaii,” Schwarz said of her former career. “I spent quite a bit of time bopping around to different parts of the globe doing research.”
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree, fisheries and wildlife, Michigan State University
- Master’s degree, geography, University of Colorado
- Post-baccalaureate degree, teacher education, University of Hawaii, Manoa
- Principal licensure, Lamar University, Texas
What ideas or strategies will you bring to this school from your last posting? “I’ve spent a lot of time living overseas and being in a variety of communities that have different ways of knowing and being and understanding and interfacing with the world. So, one thing I bring is … a curiosity and a humility when coming into new communities to learn about families’ and students’ hopes and dreams and aspirations for themselves.”
Schwarz said she always aims to avoid jumping to conclusions or making assumptions — a mentality that goes hand-in-hand with her past as a research scientist.
“If a student makes a mistake or a hurtful choice here at school … always lead with curiosity,” she said. “Start there and try to understand where a little one is coming from. Allow little mistakes and hiccups to strengthen relationships rather than impeding them.”
What drew you to administration? “I’ve always said that within an educational system or within a school, everybody plays an equally important role. Every job, when we’re working with students, is incredibly important and has a significant impact on how students view themselves, on how educators view the impact of their work.
“What I really appreciate about administration, about leadership, is that I’m able to zoom out, see the big picture and connect the various dots that oftentimes can be kept separate or siloed.”
If you had to listen to one song the rest of your life, what would it be? “‘The Cape’ by Guy Clark.”
What book, movie, TV show or podcast have you loved lately? “I’m just finishing a book called ‘Ask’ by Jeff Wetzler. It’s all about connective curiosity and the power of asking questions to learn and to empower a community of learners. It’s been an awesome read.”
Read more from Grand Rapids:
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