Highlands Elementary School Principal
Maybe it’s because he’s a firm believer in life time learning, or because he looks at every challenge as a way to make things better. Or maybe it’s because he learned wrestling as a kid from his father, who was a wrestling coach, and knows the value of perseverance and determination. Yet again, perhaps it’s his Irish mixed with a bit of Cajun French lineage that gives him an enthusiasm for life and learning, mixed with enjoyment and joie de vivre.
Whatever it is, there is no doubt that Dr. William Jancoutot is a dedicated, hardworking and well educated principal at the Highlands Elementary School.
The principal took over the top position at the Pre-K through 6th grade school on Route 36 last July and obviously loves the town, the school, its history, but most of all, the students and their parents in his school.
A native of Rochester, New York, Dr. Jacoutot fell in love with New Jersey the many times he and his family visited the Jersey Shore as he was growing up. His dad is originally from Old Bridge, and his parents met in college and settled in the Rochester area.
When he earned his first degree and began teaching, Dr. Jancoutot wanted to spread his wings further than his native state, and became a history teacher at the Peddie School. At the same time, he was a wrestling coach at Monroe High School, and is proud, for good reason, to have led his team to be 13th in the state with a record of 101 wins in his last year.
Coached by his own father, the principal points out the numerous advantages of not only athletics but also self-growth and self discipline in the sport of wrestling. As first a world history teacher for two years, then another 11 years as and 8th grade American History teacher, Dr. Jacoutot said he was able to take the lessons he learned from wrestling into the classroom. “Wrestling helped build me,” he said, “in giving me self-confidence, in honing my leadership skills. If it works for an athlete, it can also work in academics. It has always helped me learn more.”
After 17 years in the Monroe school district, including three as vice principal of the middle school and the last three as vice president of Brookside School .the third to fifth grade school, Dr. Jacoutot, who had consistently been looking to learn more, do more, achieve more, saw the opening to become a principal in Highlands. Because he loved his position in Monroe, but still wanted to continue to improve, learn and see more, he had mixed feelings about leaving but knew he wanted new challenges.
With relatives all over the state, including in Atlantic Highlands, Dr. Jacoutot admits he was familiar with this area of Monmouth County, but had only “passed through” Highlands. Now that he’s here, however, “just coming across the bridge and seeing the spectacular beauty makes you feel good.” Then there’s the local history he is still learning, he enthused, expounding on stories about Joshua Huddy and his connection with Highlands, as well as the fine local historians he has met who know so much about the town and its beginnings.
He is equally proud of the school’s history and both his office, and the main hall show it. In addition to the original school bell from the first school in Highlands in 1877, along with photos of earlier classes and the original school sign from the school all on display in the hall, his office has a book by a local author together with a photo of the current school and a story on its history. Both are set atop a desk from the earlier part of this century that was in the school basement. He is proud of the Highlands Focus program which was here when he arrived. In it, the sixth grade students, or teams, build models and research the history of a local building. All entries are judged by local historians for accuracy and depth of research.
Other signs in his spare but spotlessly clean and organized office highlight Dr. Jacoutot’s passion for living and ability to take on whatever challenge comes with the day. Behind his desk he is reminded that “the only easy day was yesterday” Another is Franklin Roosevelt’s belief that “We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can build the youth for the future.”
What is his biggest challenge as the principal of a 160-student school with about two dozen teachers and a staff of teacher aides, a child study team, administrative assistance and custodians? “He laughs, thinks deeply and says, “it depends on the day.”
But he’s quick to add the primary focus is always on “making the children feel safe, assuring we are up to date on the state standards, which do change, and doing the best we can in the jobs we have.”
It’s this principal’s wise judgement, and an achieved goal that is uppermost in his mind, that every teacher knows every student both academically and emotionally. “It’s just as important to find out why a child does something wrong as it is to discipline him for the wrongdoing. “It all has to be blended,” he explains, “because every child is different, has different tools with which to work, different needs to be met.” That means you can’t just discipline a child, without guiding him to better behavior through listening and understanding.
“There are always challenges” he laughs as he continues explaining in his fast paced yet thoughtful manner, “and each one is different. It’s our duty to accept, understand, and improve.”
Dr. Jacoutot doesn’t appear to stop for an instant without improving himself and added more challenges to achieve. He earned his doctorate in curriculum and instruction from: Liberty University just becoming principal here, and had learned his masters of Education from the California University of Pennsylvania. Now a resident of Tinton Falls, he is engaged to a woman who teaches in Middlesex County and the couple is planning their wedding for next year. He took up running as a hobby and like everything else he takes on, he works hard at it to excel. This year, he completed the half marathon of the New Jersey Shore Runners Club in spite of a rainy cold April day.
How long will he remain principal here? Well, he pauses to think again before adding “I hope I can leave my own mark here. I work with great people, I love the town and its history, I enjoy using my talent to the fullest. But I also believe in lifetime learning. I’m very happy here and I love what I’m doing and have confidence in myself.”
But then he sits back, puts his hands together and thinks before smiling and says: “Who knows? Let’s keep it rolling.”
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