Administration

Dear Walter R. Johnson Middle School families,

I am so excited to begin my journey as a Yellow Jacket as principal for the 2023-24 school year.  We are going to have a great year together. Walter Johnson has a great group of dedicated staff members focused on providing an excellent learning environment for all students. As I begin my first school year as Principal of Walter R. Johnson Middle School, I am energized and deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our children. We will accomplish this together by setting high academic expectations for all children and providing supportive systems to ensure goals are reached. Furthermore, we will provide safe and inclusive classrooms where the diverse social and emotional needs of all students are met by putting relationships first.

When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Jack, and my three sons, Luke, Graham, and Mac.  I also enjoy reading and staying current with best practices in education and I feel that I will always be a life-long learner. I work under the philosophy that everything we do in our school should be done with the best interest of our students in mind. I am determined to support every child, every day at Walter Johnson, and I will bring the energy, passion, and commitment needed to continue to make this an exemplary school.

I am a Burke County native and graduated from East Burke High School. I attended UNC-Chapel Hill for my undergraduate degree as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. After college, I taught French for five years in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district. During this time, I obtained a Masters in K-12 French as well as a Masters in School Administration from UNC-Charlotte as a North Carolina Principal Fellow. I am currently working towards a EdD degree at Western Carolina University. Recently, I was named the 2023 Wells Fargo Northwest Region Principal of the Year. 

I look forward to working with all of our students, families, staff, and the Walter Johnson community. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time.

Go Yellow Jackets!
Jessie Gravel