Dr. Jennifer Garrett
Dr. Garrett received her undergraduate Bachelor in Education
degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 1978, a Master’s degree
in Special Education Emotional Conflict from Alabama A&M 1990 and a
Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama 2002.
As an educator, Dr. Garrett began a 10-year tenure
teaching Drivers Education for behavior-disordered students, health education,
and physical education. Dr. Garrett served as the Women’s Volleyball,
Basketball and Softball Head coach, was appointed athletic director and was a
member of the St. Louis Public High School League.
It was during this time that Dr. Garrett learned
American Sign Language to become a better communicator with a deaf high school
athlete. Continuing work with individuals with special needs, Dr. Garrett provided driver education
for physically challenged high school students.
Dr. Garrett’s educational career advanced with her
appointment as Assistant Principal at J.O. Johnson High School 1994 and
Principal at the newly opened Columbia High School in 2005.
During this time, Dr. Garrett not only faced the challenges
of a principal, but also was responsible for the planning of additional staff
instruction and training in preparation to approval for the International
Baccalaureate Diploma Program to be offered at Columbia High School. Upon Columbia receiving approval to teach
course work through the IB curriculum, Dr. Garrett helped in the quest for the
Academy of Science and Foreign Language to receive the approval for Middle
years IB program.
Dr. Garrett worked with the United States Marine Corp while
at J.O. Johnson to support the JROTC students and students of active
soldiers. Being the first principal at
Columbia, she worked closely with the US Army to bring the JROTC program to the
new school. The program was so
successful that it was given the unofficial title of being the “Fastest Growing
JROTC Unit in the State.” Columbia High School became one of the first schools
to offer the “S2S” program for students of military families.
Dr. Garrett’s community involvement includes
assisting individuals in receiving benefits including; applying for Food
Stamps, having a low-income house built for an elderly couple on their land,
parents to receive social security benefits for special needs adults, helping
veterans navigate a re-boot with VA health system to insure these individuals
receive health care and other VA benefits.
Dr. Garrett also
conducted mock interviews with special needs adults in preparation for job
interviews and assisted those adults to schedule job interviews.
During the pandemic, Dr. Garrett provided support in providing documentation to
government agencies for individuals to be approved for
unemployment benefits.
Throughout her career, Dr. Garrett has also provided financial
assistance for needy individuals to improve their life in the community.
Dr. Garrett
is also a Certified Master Gardener and has worked on master
gardener projects at both State Park, and local township levels. As a Master
Gardener, Dr. Garrett
also volunteered at the local Helpline call.
As a member of the
Eastern Star, Dr. Garrett has supported the local Masonic Lodge in their
Scholarship funding for local high school students. She has organized
fundraisers with the proceeds being donated to a local K-12 school within the
county system, providing elementary school students additional math supplies,
paying for DECA student’s entry fees to state competition, and additional
funding for their Rocket team.