November 28, 2022
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Catrina Crawford |
Carla Thomas | Candace Beasley | COL Frederick Brown |
Each month, JPS leadership honors principals who exhibit the core values of equity, excellence, growth mindset, relationships, relevance, and a positive and respectful culture. This month’s group has over 60 combined years of educational experience and continues to exemplify what it means to be an excellent educator. Congratulations to the following educators on being named November’s Principals of the Month!
Elementary Division I - Catrina Crawford, Isable Elementary
Catrina Crawford is the principal of Isable Elementary School and has served the educational community of Mississippi for the past 23 years. She has served as a classroom teacher and assistant principal for Jackson Public Schools and as a classroom teacher in the Hinds County School District.
Mrs. Crawford is a proud graduate of Forest Hill High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Jackson State University and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Mississippi College. Her educational experiences have afforded her the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people to meet the common goal of increasing student achievement and teacher professional development.
During her 6-year tenure at Isable, the school’s rating moved from an F to a C. Mrs. Crawford’s educational philosophy is based on her uncompromising belief that all scholars can learn. She espouses that with a positive learning environment, strong and knowledgeable leadership, a committed and focused educational team, an encouraging community, and a supportive family, scholars can become contributive and productive citizens in society. As a parent and educator, Mrs. Crawford believes that the elementary school years are important and critical times for students. Her background as a teacher and her ongoing role as a learner and parent enables her to champion and meet the needs of students, teachers, and parents.
Elementary Division II - Carla Thomas, Clausell Elementary
Carla Thomas is the leader of Clausell Elementary and has served in the educational arena in various capacities for over 20 years. She holds a specialist degree in both elementary education and educational leadership.
Mrs. Thomas’ teaching career began as a second-grade instructional assistant prior to becoming a first-grade teacher for three years. She served as a lead teacher, a position that she held for the next three years. Following that, she became the literacy coach/interventionist at George Elementary for seven years. After serving as assistant principal for one year, Mrs. Thomas returned to George Elementary as school principal until she was named the current principal of Clausell.
Mrs. Thomas views her scholars as roses in a rose garden with educators as the gardeners. “We have to know our roses and provide them with just the amount of nurturing needed to allow them to bloom to their fullest potential,” she explained. “Just as no two roses are identical, we must accept the differences and adjust what we do on a daily basis if we are to achieve our district’s mission of ‘Every Scholar, Every Day, Ready for Life!’”
Middle School Division - Candice Beasley, Cardozo Middle
Ms. Candice Beasley is the lead educator of Cardozo Middle School and has 19 years of experience in the field of education, with nine years as a team member with Jackson Public Schools. Her educational experience began in Moss Point at Kreole Elementary as a fifth-grade science teacher. She went on to serve as a math teacher and bus driver at Gulfport High School, Crystal Springs Middle School, and Crystal Springs High School. She has also been employed by Hazlehurst School District at Hazlehurst Middle School as a math instructional coach and later moved to JPS as a math interventionist at Brinkley Middle School and Rowan Middle School.
Ms. Beasley also served at Siwell Middle School and Cardozo Middle School as assistant principal and Boyd Elementary School as principal. Although she is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, she completed her high school studies at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, Mississippi. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education with an emphasis in math and science, and she earned a Specialist Degree in educational leadership. She also earned a Master of Science Degree in elementary education from Jackson State University. Ms. Beasley has also received leadership training through the National Institute of School Leadership (NISL).
Ms. Beasley has a passion for teaching and learning and believes that children are entitled to the best education professionals have to offer, including providing the proper support for each child. “Every child has a right to have an opportunity to be successful in life and to be competitive to earn the best jobs available,” said Beasley.
High School Division - COL Fredrick Brown, Director of Army Instructions, JROTC
COL Fredrick Brown is the director of the JPS JROTC program. Brown is a native of Natchez, Mississippi. In 1980, he enlisted in the 95th Infantry Army Reserve Corps (Monroe, LA). Upon completion of ROTC as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1985, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in sociology from Northeast Louisiana University at Monroe.
COL Brown also holds a Master of Arts Degree in business administration from Central Michigan University at Mount Pleasant. His military education includes the Ordnance Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, CAS3, Logistic Management Course, Air Assault Course, Support Operations Course, and Army Command and General Staff College.
His assignments include Department of the Army, G-4, Pentagon as a Division Chief for the Logistic Operation Center, G3 13th Expeditionary Command Fort Hood Texas, and Chief of Staff 13th Expeditionary Command. Upon retirement, he served as the senior army instructor at Callaway High School. Other accolades and titles include: Commander of Special Troops Battalion, 3D COSCOM, Wiesbaden Germany (OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM), Branch Chief, Logistics Support Operations, US European Command, J-4 ( OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM ) Executive Officer, Division Materiel Management Center, 25th Infantry Division Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Executive Officer, 725th Main Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (L) Support Operations Officer, 225th Forward Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (L) Assistant Professor of Military Science, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi Aide de Camp to Chief of Ordnance, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Battalion S-3 Operations Officer, HHC 725th Main Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (L), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Company Commander, Charlie Company Light Maintenance, 24th Infantry Division (H), Fort Stewart, Georgia OPERATIONS (DESERT SHIELD/STORM) Class IX Supply Officer, Shop Officer and Maintenance Platoon Leader Delta Company, 724th Main Support Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia. COL Brown’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), DMSM (1OLC), MSM (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia and Kuwait), Overseas Services Ribbon, and the Air Assault Badge.
Congratulations and keep up the excellent work!
