Jefferson-Morgan School District

January 30, 2025

Jefferson-Morgan School District

Where Small Schools Achieve Big Success

 

Committed to student progress and connected to the community

Jefferson-Morgan School District, situated in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, is deeply committed to student growth and community engagement. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, the district operates an elementary school and a middle/high school in a campus-style setting. Guided by the mission to “do whatever it takes to ensure all students realize their potential and experience personal development and intellectual growth,” Jefferson-Morgan is setting students up for success.

Core Values

“We have a motto, ‘Whatever it Takes’,” notes Superintendent Brandon Robinson. “That’s whatever it takes for our students to be successful. We just want to give them all the tools that they need. Whatever they would find in a big school, we want them to have here in a small school as well.”

A strong connection to the community is also valued, and the schools serve as a hub for events and activities. “Almost every weekend we have something going on that is for our community and for our kids,” portrays Robinson. “As a small school, there’s not a lot of places for people to go, or for our students to go, so we want to make sure that we’re always ready to accept students or community members for a variety of reasons.”

Bridging Generations

Jefferson-Morgan’s leadership class is designed to bring together students and the community. “We want to involve people into what we do on an everyday basis in our school, and then in turn, we want our kids to become better citizens, to understand what it’s like to be a part of the community,” expands Teacher, Jodi Fulks.

One successful initiative is a partnership with the local Senior Center, where students spend time interacting through games and conversations. Colleen Valosen, a volunteer coordinator at the center, recounts, “After their first visit, we knew it was going to work because I saw older people smile and get excited and want to talk to these younger people so much. I knew right then that this is something we needed to keep doing.”

 STEM and Career Pathways

Jefferson-Morgan School District has prioritized STEM education, incorporating dedicated makerspaces for elementary students. “In our elementary school, grades four, five and six have a dedicated social studies/science teacher,” Robinson says, noting that pre K to third grade students also have scheduled time in the maker space, ensuring they get exposed to STEM concepts from an early age. In middle school, students explore gateway engineering and robotics, as well as computer science.

Wes Loring, Jefferson-Morgan High School Principal, conveys, “At the high school level we have multiple levels of engineering that build upon each other, from introductory to advanced manufacturing. We have several elective courses as well.” As for career pathways, he adds, “We’ve tried to put a focus on what career they’re interested in, because not every career has to go to a four year university. We’re trying to find what the kids are passionate about, and then we try to match up the colleges or trade schools that will help get them into that career field.”

 

Collaborative and Flexible Opportunities

The district’s small size is not a deterrent when it comes to meeting student needs. Jefferson-Morgan has built strong partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and neighboring school districts to offer students unique hands-on experiences. “A lot of our internships may not be formal co-ops,” acknowledges Robinson. “We’re such a small community, so, a lot of them are because of the connections we make. If somebody wants to shadow a doctor, I can pick up the phone and call West Virginia University Medicine, because I know this person they could shadow.”

Those exploring engineering or technical trades can learn about local industry through virtual and in-person internships. “We also are fortunate to have a wonderful career technology center,” details Loring. “We have 50 to 60 kids every year that attend. It is great for our kids, because they are leaving as graduates, and they have multiple skills, they have multiple certifications, and they’re prepared for the next step, whether they want to continue on with schooling or not.”

Jefferson-Morgan tries to provide a diverse array of pathways to explore, bringing in new options based on student interests. “I was here when we started the Vo Ag (Vocational Agriculture) program,” recounts Fulks. “We had one student who wanted to do it, and we searched for a VO AG program for that student. That’s what’s nice about a small school. We’ll get it done.”  Another example is the popular JROTC program, which is offered in partnership with a neighboring school.

Collaboration with institutions like West Virginia University, Penn West University, and Waynesburg University allow students to earn college credits while still in high school. “We have kids who have left here with 18 college credits,” Robinson depicts. “At that time, they were paying $75 for a three credit class. So, you’re saving yourself 1000s and 1000s of dollars, but more importantly, you’re exposing yourself to a college course.”

The district also places a strong emphasis on helping students explore post-secondary institutions before making enrollment decisions. Through its College and Career class, juniors and seniors tour universities, trade schools, and technical colleges. In addition, representatives from colleges and vocational programs frequently visit the school to meet with students. “They get exposure to 15 to 20 different post educational programs,” explains Loring. “They’re seeing what campuses actually look like.”

Professional Culture

Robinson shares that Jefferson-Morgan School District has successfully maintained a strong teaching force, which he attributes to the districts supportive and innovative culture. When it comes to hiring, he says, “I want somebody that wants to be at Jefferson-Morgan, who cares about the kids and shares our core values of doing whatever it takes for our students.”

Teachers are empowered to experiment with new ideas, backed by a supportive administration and school board. Robinson maintains, “As a teacher, we trust the job that you’re going to do, and we’re going to try to give you everything that you need to be successful. A lot of times, teachers will come to us with these crazy ideas, which we want, and sometimes our job is just to be able to find grant funding, to be able to fund that idea.”

Jefferson-Morgan offers a supportive environment where educators are encouraged to think outside the box and try new approaches. Jason Beal, School Board President highlights, “We invest in the teachers, we invest in the curriculum, and we invest in students. We have people that want to come work here, and when positions come available, we’ve had people come in that were willing to take pay cuts just to get in our district, because they know what we do for our students.”

According to Fulks, one of the district’s defining features is the supportive family-like atmosphere. “It is great that our administration believes in us enough to let us try things in our classroom, in our curriculum,” she says. “We always say, we’re a family. Once you’re here, you don’t leave, unless you retire. You want to come in every day. You see these people, and they’re your friends, and they’re your family.”

Fiscal Responsibility and Community Support

Jefferson-Morgan has managed to avoid raising taxes for 12 years, a point of pride for the district. Beal reports, “We look at everything we can do to keep taxes the same, because  it’s a big burden for everybody. We really do like that we haven’t had to raise taxes. It’s not like that is never going to happen, but we try to prolong that as much as we can”

The district’s financial strategy includes a capital improvements fund to address larger infrastructure needs such as roofs and HVAC systems, what Robinson calls the “not pretty” projects. Additionally, the district invests in ongoing maintenance to keep the schools in top condition. Partnerships with local boroughs, and investments from community groups such as the Lions Club, are important to these efforts, along with grant funding from various sources. “Our community makes our school what it is,” Robinson underscores.

 

Lifelong Learning

Looking ahead, Robinson says the priorities for Jefferson-Morgan School District include enhancing curriculum, community collaboration, and adapting to the evolving needs of students. “It’s definitely going to be keeping our kids ready for the world they’re going to go into. I know our teachers are committed to that,” he outlines.

Robinson’s belief in lifelong learning extends to all levels of the district. “You have to be the person that’s willing to learn and keep up with the trends of education, because they’re forever changing,” he asserts. “We have to continue to provide what’s best for our students. If we don’t keep up with what is happening, then our students are going to be behind.”

AT A GLANCE

Jefferson-Morgan School District

What: A school district with an innovative approach to education

Where: Jefferson, Pennsylvania

Website: www.jmsd.org

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