It was back on May 2 when the Harrison County Board of Education signed off on the transfer of Mark Jones to the next stop in his educational career. For those viewing it from the outside, it may have caught them by surprise or, perhaps, asking why.

 

After all, Jones had been recommended as the next assistant principal at Johnson Elementary School. The former baseball coach, on a good day, could likely hit JES with a good throw from the office of his current position of vice principal and athletic director at Bridgeport High School.

 

The reason has nothing to do with being discontent. It also had nothing to do with possibly knowing a month later the principal at Bridgeport High School, Matt DeMotto, would be retiring.

 

The reason is simple. And one any parent will understand.

 

“It came down to time with my family,” said Jones.

 

Jones said that knowing quite well his tasks as a vice principal at JES will be just as daunting as they are at the high school. It is the removal of the role of athletic director that is going to free up much time for his growing – and still very young – family.

 

“It’s tough being gone the number of nights in the AD’s position,” said Jones who along with wife Brianna are parents to 6-year-old son Luke and a two-year-old son Levi. “It’s tough hearing questions coming up from them about when Daddy has to go back to work or wondering if I’m going home late. That was hitting a little harder each time I heard it.”

 

The other thing that weighed heavily was the evening and Saturday commitments throughout the school year as his boys grew and became more involved with activities. He said t-ball is now in the mix and his youngest is set to start “pre-pre-school” next year.

 

“You want them involved and you want to be part of it and the reality is that a lot of times, as the AD, you can’t,” said Jones, who is also looking forward to more quality time with his dogs Layla and Phoebe. “As tough as that it, what makes it even tougher is knowing it puts added stress on my wife to pretty much handle it all if I’m not there.”

 

There will still be some nights away from the Jones household due to school commitments at Johnson Elementary. The number of those days, however, will be greatly reduced.

 

“The number nights out annually will be greatly reduced with this position,” said Jones.

 

Even with that carrot dangling in front of him, taking a jump at it was not easy. In fact, it proved quite a bit difficult for Jones, who is ending his fifth year at Bridgeport High School in the dual administrative post.

 

“This is my first administrative job, and there is a comfort level from working here with great people, a great student body, and a great community,” he said. “Plus, this is my first administrative job.”

 

What did he learn in his first realm away from the classroom?

 

“The main thing you learn is that no two days are the same and you’re always learning because of it. There is a situation you have no idea about that greets you daily, and even the situations where you have a spelled-out discipline or attendance policy to go from, there’s a fair chance there will be a twist to it,” said Jones.

 

Jones also found out quickly there were benefits from making the jump from the classroom he loved to the administrative hat he now wears.

 

“The big difference is you’re not just tied to 75 or 80 students you have that year. You’re tied to 700-plus here at Bridgeport, and it’s rewarding to watch them grow over the course of a semester, a year, or their entire time at the school,” Jones said. “It sounds cliché, but you get into education with the goal of seeing the student you taught, the student who came to your office walking across that graduation stage and having a smile on your face. That’s the payback.”

 

Jones spent nine years in the classroom – six at South Harrison and three at RCB – before arriving at BHS. Even before getting to the school situated on Johnson Avenue, he was aware of the standards of excellent in the classroom and on the extracurricular front. He said he hopes as he leaves those standards have been enhanced.

 

“I knew going in that it takes more than just the administration to have made, and continue to make, Bridgeport High School successful. It didn’t take long to see what I suspected; great teachers and staff, a community behind it, and the embracing of tradition,” he said. “The staff works so hard to uphold the academic and extracurricular standards of this school, which is why the school is successful. It’s a collaborative method where there are clear results.

 

“At the same time, it was a great administrative team working with Mr. DeMotto and Mrs. (Renee) Mathews,” said Jones. “Being able to look over for advice from the principal pretty much at any time made this process easier.”

 

Now, Jones is heading about a hundred yards down the road to Johnson. He will fill the seat formerly held by Assistant Principal Heather Holbert, who will be filling the principal’s seat held by the retiring Vicki Huffman.

 

“I’m very excited and looking forward to working with her,” said Jones of teaming up with Holbert. “One thing that is going to make it nice for a transition to this position is having the former assistant principal still in the building.

 

“Even with that great resource, I’m not naïve to think there is not going to be learning period that needs to take place,” he continued. “It’s going to take time to adjust from high school expectations to elementary expectations. Even with those challenges, I am as excited for the opportunity as I am feeling bittersweet about no longer seeing all of those people I’ve worked with for the last five years.”

 

 

Editor's Note: Photos show Mark Jones handling duties at the school, at Jamison Field, and during the 2023 graduation. Jones pic with the flag, as well as the top photo, by Joe LaRocca. Family photo courtesy of Mark Jones and taken byJoey Signorelli.