For any Principal, ensuring the academic success of their school's students is goal number one.
But, for Jane Wilson, making sure the students' minds were open to learning extended beyond the classroom and into their homes.
"At some point, I started thinking we need to be a full-service community school to meet the needs of our students," said Wilson. "My focus became more than just the student, it became a community approach."
Wilson retired on Friday after a 13-year run as Principal of Fort Belvoir Elementary School that began in November of 2000. Wilson decided to take the job at Fort Belvoir after having been principal at West Springfield Elementary and Herndon Elementary schools previously because of her visits to the installation.
"My husband is retired military, so I would come on post to go to the commissary and would drive around sometimes to look at the post," said Wilson. "I watched the school being built and it intrigued me that such a large number of military connected students would be in one building. So, when the job came up I gave it some serious thought and decided I would like to come here."
Like most principals, Wilson's initial focus was supporting the academic achievements of the students. Even after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Wilson said her focus did not change.
"That was the approach we took," said Wilson. "Let's make sure we keep the children focused on their school work."
However, as the war in Afghanistan and Iraq progressed, Wilson noticed the children born around 2001 were becoming more difficult to work with academically. She decided a change in focus was needed.
"We saw that they were a bit more challenging to work with because of the emotional stress," said Wilson. "That's when our clinical team came closer with the teachers to try to address those needs."
Wilson and her staff began brainstorming to come up with programs that would help children and their parents relieve their stresses. Family Fridays were created to allow parents to come in and have lunch with their children in relaxed, low-key atmosphere.
The school began going on field trips to places like the American Indian Museum and Colonial Williamsburg to give children and their Families a new experience.
"They liked the low key nature of eating with their children during the Family Fridays," said Wilson. "It gave parents a chance to decompress and enjoy their children."
Another result of the lunches and field trips was parents forming friendships with other parents, according to Wilson.
"Families on post may be neighbors, but they may not know one another," said Wilson. "Going on the trips, they were able to get to know one another and establish friendships."
Despite the success of these programs, Wilson knew more had to be done. Improving the children's mindsets was going to take more than just a lunch with their parents or a field trip to an unknown place.
Wilson came up with the idea for a "calm room" where children could go by themselves and relax if they felt they needed time away from their classmates.
The room has a couch and bean bag chairs for the children to rest on, and if they felt they needed more than 15 or 20 minutes in the room, desks and computers were available for the child to do his or her schoolwork.
A time limit for how long the child could stay in the "calm room" was never enforced because Wilson didn't want the children to feel like they were doing anything wrong.
"We didn't want to look at it like, 'Oh, this child is misbehaving so he or she's a problem child,'" said Wilson. "We don't throw away children, we try to figure out ways to help and support them."
Having been a military spouse for more than 30 years, Wilson knows that taking care of a Soldier's Family allows the Soldier to more effectively do his or her job.
"The less the Soldier has to worry about on the home front, the better he or she is in their job," said Wilson. "So, I felt it was an important job to help the children, which helps the Family and helps the Soldier."
The care Wilson displayed in her dealings with the children, their Families and the programs she created was evident to her entire staff, according to Cynthia Jameson, Fort Belvoir Elementary School assistant principal.
"She is truly born to care and that was evident daily," said Jameson of Wilson. "She takes in the needs of the children, their Families and the school staff. Her attitude made for a better school and Belvoir community."
The programs Wilson created, and the partnerships with organizations like the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association and Fort Belvoir Headquarters Battalion, are signs of how effective a leader she has been, according to Jameson.
"They are self-sustaining programs and partnerships," said Jameson. "That's the sign of real success."
One program Wilson is particularly proud of is the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics grant they received in 2011. The program allows children to learn aspects of engineering and different careers in the S.T.E.M fields, which Wilson thinks will pay great dividends for the children as they progress in their academic careers.
"It helps the students with their critical thinking and opens up a whole new world," said Wilson. "It gives them opportunities to do things that elementary school children don't normally get to do. It exposes them to career fields they could possibly get into as adults."
Even though she is retired, Wilson isn't completely closing the door on her time at Belvoir. She would like to use her experiences during the last 13 years to write a book about how to support the needs of military children and their Families.
"I just want to bring to the attention of others about military children and how to work with them and their Families to help them be successful," said Wilson. "Maybe policy makers will read it and make decisions on how to best support a public school on a military post."
Though it was hard to walk out of the school for the final time on Friday, Wilson is excited for the next chapter in her life and thankful for all the memories and new experiences her time at Belvoir has provided.
"I think this school was the hardest one I've been at because it was very challenging, but I'm definitely a better person for it," said Wilson. "It was strange walking away for the last time. I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my life, but still holding on to the previous chapter."
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