Says principal intern program helped prepare her for role
By Juliann Morris
June 20, 2023–Longtime Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) educator Sara Nethery has been named the new principal at Bates Elementary School effective July 1.
Nethery recently completed the Jefferson County Leadership Academy (JCLA) Principal Intern program, serving as a principal intern at Grace James Academy of Excellence since July 2022.
“The Principal Intern program provided invaluable on-the-job training as a building principal,” Nethery said. “The program, coupled with my experience, has prepared me to lead Bates Elementary School, and I’m so excited for this opportunity.”
Nethery has nearly 18 years of experience in education. She joined JCPS in 2005 as a language arts teacher at Western Middle School. In 2006, Nethery transferred to Farnsley Middle School, where she taught language arts before being promoted to assistant principal in 2013. Nethery worked in that role until 2022, helping the school grow its Math, Science, and Technology (MST) Magnet program.
“Ms. Nethery is an equity-focused leader with a commitment to creating relationships with families, students, staff, and the community,” said Dr. Paige Hartstern, assistant superintendent of elementary schools, Zone 2. “We look forward to this exciting new chapter for the students, staff, families, and the exceptional community that Bates Elementary serves.”
Nethery earned her Educational Leadership Certification with Rank 1 status and a master’s degree in Elementary Education, both from Indiana University Southeast. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Indiana. She also participated in the JCPS Principal Pipeline Cohort in 2018 and the Emerging Leaders Program in 2019.
At Bates, Nethery said she will focus on building relationships with staff, students, and community partners. She’s excited to help lead the implementation of the district’s new math and ELA curriculum and see their impact on student outcomes.
Nethery also said she’s thrilled at the chance to work at a strong Leader in Me school, where the entire community is invested in developing students as leaders.
“My core beliefs align with their Leader in Me adoption, and we share the same mission and vision for students,” Nethery said. “As a servant leader, I am excited to encourage engagement, amplify voices and support confidence in students and staff.”