Sharon Jackson, RCSD School No.9

We had to have our running shoes on to surprise this week's News 8 Golden Apple Award winner. It took us awhile to catch Principal Sharon Jackson at Rochester's School No.9.

First Grader Raiven Barton and her Mom Carmen nominated Ms. Jackson for a Golden Apple Award.  Carmen says "She sets a great example because she's here every morning.  She's usually the first one pulling up in that parking lot. She goes through the day with a smile.  And she just let's the kids know that she cares about them." 

One place you'll always find the Principal is in the cafeteria encouraging students to be their best.  Raiven's whole class snuck out to help us with our surprise.  But Ms. Jackson surprised us.  Sharon turned and ran across the cafeteria, into a closet and shut the door behind her!  It took us a few moments to talk her out to accept the award.

Ms. Jackson ran from us but she doesn't run from a challenge.  A few years ago School No.9 was in trouble.  But Assistant Principal Jose Mora says Sharon's leadership is a big reason the school is now a success story.  "In my opinion she is the hardest working administrator in the whole district.  She's very engaged with the students from kindergarten all the way to the sixth grade in all aspects of their learning."

Sharon Jackson walks the talk. "We need to model the behavior we expect our children to do. And the best way to do that is to show rather than tell and to provide that model of what behaviors, characteristics and qualities you want them to have as human beings."

Sharon Jackson is a News 8 Golden Apple Award Winner. You can read the letter we got nominating her below.
 

Dear Channel 8,

  Ms. Jackson is the Principal at School No.9 and she does an excellent job with the whole school. She makes sure she is there to get children off the bus in the mornings and to put them on the bus after school. She helps the children get across the streets safely.
   She also has fun with the children during their breakfast and lunch periods. If you were to go into the school Ms. Jackson would blend in with all the staff.  She cleans the cafeteria tables and floors and maintains classrooms if a teacher needs to step out for a minute or two.  She monitors hallways, reads books to the children, dances and laughs with the students.     
   Ms. Jackson attends Saturday school every time it is held.  She is so great in so many ways and she just really shows that she cares about the students because of the effort she puts forth everyday.
   Not a day goes by that Ms. Jackson does not have a smile on her face. So I think she is well overdue for this award.

Sincerely,
Raiven Barton & Carmen Jones