Turner Public Schools Welcomes New Superintendent

When classes began at Turner Public Schools on August 19, they did so with a new administrator at the helm: Mrs. Jennifer McAllister. McAllister, who is replacing Mr. Tony Warren, came to Turner from Opheim School District in Valley County, where she served as the school district's superintendent.

McAllister's 20 plus years of experience in education spans an array of different positions. These include roles in special education, music, gifted and talented programs, grades 2 through 8 teaching, as well as administration. This is her fifth year as a superintendent.

"I am excited to join Turner School as the superintendent for the upcoming school year. As we prepare for a new chapter, I want to share my aspirations for what I know will be a successful and fulfilling year. I bring a passion for being part of this school community and a strong commitment to fostering a positive and effective learning environment for our students at Turner. I believe that our collective efforts can create a space where both students and staff can thrive, and I am eager to contribute to that vision," McAllister stated.

McAllister claims she knew she wanted to be a teacher ever since her mother provided day care in their home. After those early days of playing teacher, McAllister graduated from Northern Montana College in the spring of 1995 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Reading Minor. She put her degree immediately to use that fall in a special education position in Frazier where she worked for two years before moving to Lewistown.

In Lewistown, while she and her husband raised their three children, McAllister stayed connected to education by serving as a substitute. From 1997-2006, she worked in positions at Spring Creek and Deerfield Colonies before moving to Moore. McAllister served in various positions there from 2006-2019.

During that span of time, McAllister recalls a pivotal point in her career. "I was working in Moore, and the administration asked for volunteers to take a combination second-third-fourth grade class. I volunteered, but that year began as what seemed like an impossible job and produced some career-ending thoughts. Although I initially thought I would leave education-given the challenge of the position and the pain of watching kids survive difficulty-that year turned out to be one of the most enjoyable ones of my career. Being out of my comfort zone brought out the best in me because it demanded that I not give up and showed me that there is value and learning in every experience."

While in Moore, McAllister also served as a consultant with the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). Representing Central Montana, McAllister provided consulting services on gifted and talented programs as well as Response to Intervention (RTI) and the Montana Behavior Initiative (MBI). Linking the behavioral and academic components of RTI and MBI, those two programs later merged to become Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

According to OPI, "MTSS is a framework for school improvement that focuses on system level change across the classroom, school, and district to provide all students with the best opportunities to maximize achievement, both academically and behaviorally. MTSS focuses on providing high quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction or goals, and continually checking fidelity of interventions. Data is used to allocate resources to improve student learning and support staff implementation of effective practices."

After learning multiple strategies she could take back to her own work with students, McAllister knew she wanted to pursue a master's degree but didn't know whether it should be in curriculum or leadership. "It was never my hope or dream to become a superintendent; I didn't want to lose that connection with kids," she reported.

Still, her Master of Educational Leadership Degree earned in 2018 from Rocky Mountain College in Billings led her to build a network of persuasive organization representatives and superintendents that were "good at sweet talking, and the rest is history," McAllister said.

Invested in the welfare of children, McAllister has identified several key goals that she believes will guide Turner students and staff towards a successful year:

Building Strong Relationships: I am committed to getting to know each of you and building a supportive and collaborative team environment. I believe that strong professional relationships are the foundation of a successful school community.

Fostering Student Growth: My primary goal is to support our students' academic and personal growth. I aim to help support and, if needed, develop and implement strategies that cater to diverse learning needs and create opportunities for all students to excel.

Promoting Open Communication: Effective communication is crucial for any successful team. I encourage open dialogue and welcome your thoughts, ideas, and feedback. Let's work together to ensure that we are all aligned in our mission and goals. My office door is always open.

Encouraging Innovation: I am excited about the potential for new ideas and approaches that we can bring into our classrooms and programs. I am always open to exploring innovative methods to enhance our educational practices.

Supporting Professional Development: I believe that continuous growth is essential for personal and professional development. I am enthusiastic about participating in and promoting opportunities for ongoing learning and improvement.

As the academic year begins, McAllister stated that she is looking forward to getting started on what she is confident will be a productive and rewarding year.

"Thank you for the warm welcome I have already received. I am eager to work with such a dedicated and talented team and to contribute to the ongoing success of Turner School," McAllister concluded.