Jaclyn Wilson started her teaching career at Valley Forge Elementary 15 years ago. This year, she has come full circle as the school’s newest principal for the 2019/2020 school year.

“Coming here is like coming full circle,” Wilson said. “It has been a rewarding experience.”

Wilson comes back to Valley Forge with a decade and a half of experience, including time as a teacher and principal at Unaka Elementary and two years at Keenburg Elementary as assistant principal.

She said coming back to where she started is an exciting experience, because she will be working with a completely new generation of students.

“I look forward to working with the students again,” she said. “I get to work in the community again.”

She said Valley Forge has seen several years of academic success, and she looks forward to continuing that trend under her leadership.

“At previous schools, it was exciting to see them grow each year,” Wilson said. “Here, they are all new people.”

She said interacting with these new students and parents is among the most exciting things about her new position.

“I am most excited about the kids coming back,” Wilson said. “We have spent the past two weeks planning and planning. For me, it is about getting to know them.”

As a principal, her responsibilities also include directing fellow faculty members to a unified goal, as well.

“We have a wonderful staff,” she said. “They work to do what is best for the students.”

As for her, one of the main reasons she has continued her work in education is the challenge of it all.

“It is the challenge of increasing your academic level, showing growth,” she said.

Growth is one of the school’s main themes in a variety of areas.

“Through my leadership, I want to see the school grow,” Wilson said.

She said she tries to keep an open-door policy, so students, teachers and faculty can ask her for help or advice whenever they need.

“I am here to help, to work with them,” Wilson said.

Above all, she said she cannot wait to continue her work with the Valley Forge community.

“I am tickled to death to be back.”