As the new year begins, Cape Coral High School welcomes two new assistant principals into the Nest: Jenniffer Pierson and Matthew Toadvine. With the departure of Troy Beall and Leslie Cornwell at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the new faces of the academic board and building management teams are prepped and ready for the year ahead of them.
Pierson has taken over the academic institutional departments, held by former Assistant Principal Beall. Previously working as a middle school administrator, Pierson is thrilled to be able to work with students at the high school level.
“It’s been kind of eye opening coming to high school because it’s so much [more] different, like there’s so many more opportunities,” said Pierson. “I’m a relationship person, I want to get to know everybody’s needs. I want to be able to visit with them.”
Pierson is heading the new Freshman Academy, working with Principal Ryan Jackson and Toadvine to support the needs of the incoming Class of 2028.
“We’ve [administration] looked at a whole bunch of research and research says that if freshmen are on track at the end of their freshman year, they have a higher percentage rate for graduation. That’s going to be my goal for this year is to really get that program up and running and support our freshmen, Seahawk, Freshman Academy team members, and then working really closely with our freshmen that are incoming to make that transition to high school as easy as can be,” stated Pierson.
Toadvine, a former administrator at Diplomat Middle, is taking action with Pierson to start the Seahawk Freshman Academy off on the right foot.
“I’m really excited about the Freshman Academy. I want to see results,” said Toadvine. “I want grades to go up.”
Replacing former Assistant Principal Cornwell, Toadvine is taking over the building management and care department. Also involved with ninth grade discipline, Toadvine’s position is critical.
Like Pierson, Toadvine’s aspirations involving freshmen success are at the forefront of his goals for the year. “A lot of students feel like they get the discipline, but there’s none of the celebrations when things are done well,” said Toadvine. “ I know if I can do that [encourage excellence] as freshmen, that I can create that culture as they progress through Cape [High], and eventually, hopefully, that is the overall culture of the entire school, being one of success and being a contributing member to the society.”
While both new hires are most recently coming from a middle school position, Toadvine believes being able to converse with his old students is a great strength for the year.
“I’m excited to see a lot of my own students. I enjoyed all my students. It’s gonna be great seeing them get older and mature and what they want to do,” said Toadvine. “There’s a sense of comfortableness when you see familiar faces. I know they were excited to see me when they came in, but I’m just as excited to see them because that’s [a] familiar face. I know who they are, and the same with my sophomores, juniors, seniors.”
Jackson believes that Pierson and Toadvine will be incredible changes to Cape High, promoting more celebration and connection throughout the school, “These two [Pierson and Toadvine] are amazing additions to Cape. I am really happy with that,” stated Jackson. “We’re gonna do a lot more than celebration pieces. We’re gonna bring that back, attendance grades, proficiency on the progress monitoring. We’re gonna be doing some more stuff and we’re gonna put together [more celebrations for students.]”
With these new staff members, Jackson hopes that connection across the school will be apparent. As one of his major goals for the new year is to support and celebrate all students, Pierson and Toadvine will play critical roles in the development.
“We’re going to get to have a great year,” said Jackson. “We’ve got a lot of kids, but they [Pierson and Toadvine] will be great.”
Pierson shares the same hope for the year, stating she believes that this new opportunity is going to be an awesome experience. “I’m excited about the opportunity that I have here at this level and this role, but I’m really excited about being able to go to events and see performances,” said Pierson. “I’m just looking forward to all of the experiences that I’m going to have this year.”