Our school would not be where it is today without its hard-working staff members who keep the wheels spinning. A great example of someone who devotes their hard work to keeping Myers Park a functioning community is Assistant Principal, Mr. Jeffus. Going into his ninth year as Assistant Principal, Mr. Jeffus not only takes on administrative duties but also supports students and staff beyond the classroom. He is seen cheering on the Myers Park teams on the field and the courts while helping keep the student section safe and enjoyable for everyone.
If you’ve been lucky enough to have sat in a classroom with Mr. Jeffus as your teacher, you’d know his background goes beyond Assistant Principal. Mr. Jeffus was the Assistant Principal at East Gaston High School in Gaston County for two years. However, before that, he taught math for 7th and 8th graders at Randolph Middle School for five years. He made the switch to Assistant Principal when he realized his passion was to “improve the overall educational experience,” as he stated in an interview.
Mr. Jeffus is all around the school throughout the day. He takes on multiple tasks like assisting teachers and students, subbing in classrooms, attending meetings, doing classroom observations, and even keeping order during lunch and class transitions. When asked about the most challenging part of the job, Jeffus responded by saying, “For me personally it is administrative tasks like observations. I like more authentic interactions.” In fact, it is these honest interactions with students and teachers that fuel his passion for being Assistant Principal. He added his favorite part of the job is “seeing students and staff reach goals, in and out of the building,” whether it’s making a team, getting a B grade instead of a C, or great test scores. “I enjoy being a part of life. I value the trust that comes with sharing the hard things–college, mistakes, grades. Watching change and adapting to an ever-changing environment,” he commented.
As Jeffus is committed to students’ interests and goals beyond the classroom it is important for students to know who Mr. Jeffus is beyond the classroom. Outside of school, Mr. Jeffus stated he enjoys cooking and coaching, especially coaching his daughter’s soccer team. In fact, he has always been a fan of sports, having played tennis, soccer, and basketball, and even running cross-country at Southwestern Randolph High School. He added he still enjoys playing tennis, basketball, and his recent favorite: golf. Although admitting to not consuming much television or music, Mr. Jeffus will never skip out on watching classic movies like Sandlot, Mighty Ducks, Fast & Furious, Mission: Impossible, or Little Big League with his kids. Mr. Jeffus’ taste for classics carries on to music as he commented he enjoys listening to mostly country, 90s music, The Fray, and Coldplay.
Mr. Jeffus’ support and devotion towards Myers Park High School is a great example of what passion for what you do looks like. His work, along with the rest of the staff at school works hard to help keep the learning environment functional and safe is undeniably something to appreciate and express gratitude for.
After being asked what advice he would give students, Jeffus ended by saying, “I tell 9th graders at the beginning of the year—it’s always better to communicate earlier than later. Admin, we’re here to support you. As soon as you notice an issue, let somebody know. Don’t be afraid to reach out. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.”