Jefferson Local Schools

Roughrider Families ~

As we embark on the 2025-2026 school year, I am filled with enthusiasm and excitement for what promises to be a fun and productive year. It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to each of you as we begin this new academic journey together. The district’s mission is to ensure an excellent student focused education, while supporting the growth of staff and providing the community a quality educational experience. Students, staff and community members make us One Team and One Family.

Over the summer, our dedicated staff has been preparing our buildings for the new school year. The old tennis courts have been removed and new courts will be ready to use this fall. Upgraded security key cards have been installed in our buildings for additional security. Other improvements include renovations to the high school band room flooring, updated landscaping at both the Middle and High Schools, and new decorative door coverings at Norwood Elementary. We also completed preventative maintenance on the HVAC systems at Norwood and the Middle School/High School complex..

I have had the opportunity to hold Listen & Learn sessions with administrators, staff, and community members. I have learned about the wonderful traditions in our district and about challenges that the district faces. I appreciate all community members that have reached out to share their experiences with me. I will continue to hold these Listen & Learn sessions throughout the fall.

As I begin my journey as the Superintendent, I wanted to share my four pillars for moving the district forward.

Student Growth - All students can learn. It is our responsibility as educators to meet our students where they are and provide the support to help them grow socially and academically.
Student Engagement - Students that are engaged in the learning process are more likely to be excited about learning. As a district, we will be looking at ways to help engage our students and continue to include the student voice in creating high quality experiential learning opportunities for all students.
Communication - The district partners with families and the community to help educate our students. Therefore, it is important for us to have open lines of communication and celebrate all of the great things our students and staff are doing on a daily basis. One example of this is the new RoughRider Bulletin that will come out at least once a month to highlight the district. Additionally, the use of Parent Square across the buildings will help streamline communication for parents.
Fiscal Responsibility - The district needs to continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. We will be doing an audit of all facilities to create a long term plan for preventative maintenance and replacements. We will be reviewing staffing and organizational structures to make sure that we are maximizing our resources for the benefit of our students.

These four pillars will be the guiding principles through which leadership makes decisions. By focusing on Student Growth, Student Engagement, Communication, and Fiscal Responsibility, we aim to keep our district the pride of the community. We look forward to partnering with you this year. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's school or my office if you have any questions, and I encourage you to attend an upcoming Listen & Learn session. We are One Team and One Family!

Proud to serve as Superintendent of Jefferson Local Schools

Jessica Mamais Ed.D.

Jefferson Local Schools

A Message from the Superintendent