Principal Dana Jason

Dear Taft Tiger Families,

On behalf of the entire staff of William H. Taft Elementary School, welcome to Taft Elementary! At Taft Elementary, we are committed to the continued growth of all students-- academically, socially and emotionally.  Taft Elementary recognizes that the success of our school and students comes through continued support and collaboration between home and school.  As partners, we share the responsibility of our student’s success. We are committed to doing our very best to ensure we carry out this responsibility, and we appreciate all you have done and will continue to do to support your student! 

My educational career began in 2009 in St. Louis Public School as a 2nd grade teacher. After spending several years teaching in St. Louis and obtaining a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri--St. Louis, I moved back home to Cincinnati in 2012 and continued teaching. In 2016, I had the opportunity to join Cincinnati Public Schools teaching right here at Taft Elementary as a 4th grade Math and Science teacher! Then, during the 2018- 2019 school year, I served as an Assistant Principal at Roberts Academy within Cincinnati Public Schools. I graduated from Columbia University, with a Masters of Education in School Leadership and Organization in 2018. I have been the proud principal of Taft Elementary since fall 2019. 

As a former teacher at Taft Elementary, I have seen how hard staff works to provide all kids with the tools they need to be successful. I have seen the opportunities we have, as a STEM school, to be creative and leverage resources to enhance the learning experience and quality of instruction. Finally, I know the academic growth outcomes that are possible for kids when we provide them with rigorous content and an environment conducive to learning.

There is a little phrase we say each morning at Taft  on our morning announcements: Progress is the Path to Proficiency…and Beyond! This encouraging message is significant to our staff and students because making progress over time puts you on track to not only meet, but exceed, your goals. In order to ensure that students are making progress and achieving goals we have a targeted focus on the ABCs: 

• Academics - Focus on high quality, rigorous grade-level instruction that promotes student engagement
• Behavior - Focus on development of social and emotional needs while holding students to a high expectation of excellence with an emphasis on accountability
• Culture - Focus on creating a safe learning community where all students feel respected, celebrated and support

Taft Elementary holds a very special place in my heart, and I am thrilled to continue being a part of a school community that I love. As your building principal, I will ensure that Taft Elementary maintains a positive learning environment that prioritizes academic achievement through the support and development of highly effective teachers that focus on providing rigorous STEM instruction and opportunities for all students. I will work with my team to maintain a positive school culture where students are part of a close community where they feel physically, socially, and emotionally safe. Finally, I will strive to build strong collaborative relationships with students, staff, families and community members in order to optimize learning experiences for all of our students here at Taft Elementary.

I look forward to  collaborating with you all, and thank you for your commitment and dedication to your student’s education.

Sincerely,
Ms. Jason