Two Jackson schools opened the 2026-27 academic year under new leadership.
Jackson Middle School
Dr. Jaclyn Stringer has been named the new principal of Jackson Middle School by the Clarke County Board of Education.
Stringer brings 24 years of experience in education and leadership, having served as a teacher, counselor, career technical administrator, assistant principal and principal.
That progression is unusually broad. A principal who has worked as a school counselor arrives with direct experience in student support and family communication, and one who has run career technical programs brings familiarity with the workforce pathways that matter most to students who do not intend to pursue a four-year degree. Both perspectives are relevant at the middle school level, where students begin making choices that shape their high school course sequence.
“I look forward to partnering with our teachers, students, parents and community as we work together to build a culture of excellence, growth and opportunity for every child,” Stringer said.
Jackson Intermediate School
Jackson Intermediate School started the school year with a new yet familiar face as its principal.
Joanie Younge served as JIS’s assistant principal from 2021 to 2024 before returning to lead the school.
A returning administrator arrives with an advantage that an outside hire cannot replicate: she already knows the building, the staff and a substantial share of the families. Students who were in the lower grades during her previous tenure are still enrolled, and the working relationships she built as assistant principal transfer directly.
Younge has been actively sharing updates and important information to help prepare parents and students for the 2026-27 academic year.
Why Principal Transitions Matter
School leadership turnover is one of the more consequential variables in a school’s performance, and it is felt most acutely in the first year. A new principal sets expectations for staff, determines how discipline and attendance are handled day to day, and shapes how readily parents feel able to raise concerns.
For Clarke County, filling both positions with experienced administrators — one with more than two decades across multiple roles, the other with prior service in the same building — reduces the disruption that a leadership change can otherwise bring.
Contacting the Schools
Parents with questions about the 2026-27 school year at either campus should contact the school office directly. Both principals have signaled an emphasis on communication with families as the year gets underway.