DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. -- An assistant principal from Douglas County has been named the National Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Jessica Ainsworth works at Lithia Springs High School. She is credited with increasing graduation rates, job placements and college acceptances at her school, and boosting reading scores across all subgroups. Under her leadership, Lithia Springs High's reading proficiency rate among students with disabilities jumped from 27 percent to 83 percent.
Ainsworth began a program, The MANE Thing, to turn around Lithia Spring High's struggling culture and climate. The MANE Thing is a six-pronged initiative that focuses on classroom instruction; intervention programs; assessment and performance data analysis; attendance; behavior and supervision; and parent engagement.
Lithia Springs High students describe Ainsworth as approachable and invested in their success, while teachers appreciate the professional development opportunities she creates for them.
"Ms. Ainsworth's role is not an easy one, and it requires a genuine love for the work and a desire to serve students," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a release. "I offer her my sincere congratulations and am thrilled an educator of her caliber will represent Georgia nationwide."
Ainsworth was chosen for the honor from among three finalists selected from a pool of state winners. She will represent her profession at the national level for the next year.
