As a fifth grader at Martin Luther King Elementary School in Harvey, Illinois, Jeff Stovall was required to take the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, a standardized assessment used in Illinois to measure student growth in reading, language and math. At the time, Stovall didn’t understand the importance of the exam and admits he didn’t take it seriously, filling in answers at random.
The result was painful. He was not promoted to sixth grade, a setback that left him devastated.
“I felt I was not set up for success,” he recalled. “I decided then that someday I would work in education and wouldn’t let this happen to other students.”
That experience fueled his determination through middle school and high school years and ultimately guided him to a career in education. Stovall attended the University of Northern Iowa on a football scholarship, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in special education. He later completed a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from National Louis University.
Today, Stovall serves as principal of James C. Wright Middle School in Madison, where he strives to make a positive impact on students every day.
Believing in students
Stovall began his career as a special education teacher, first in Beloit, where he had briefly lived during high school, then in Iowa, and later in Milwaukee, where he spent 18 years.
“In special education, I helped kids at the bottom get to the top through encouragement and helping them believe in themselves,” he said. “It was very gratifying to help them find their purpose.”
Over time, Stovall realized that if he could make a difference for students in his classroom, he could have an even greater impact across an entire school.
That realization inspired him to move into administration, accepting an assistant principal position at Transition High School in Milwaukee.
His next stop was Robbinsdale Area Schools in Minnesota, where he spent five years as assistant principal at Sandburg Middle School. In 2020, he took on additional responsibilities as principal of the district’s virtual high school.
Equipping students for the future
Now leading Wright Middle School, Stovall is committed to helping students succeed. One of the school’s key strategies is Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), a nonprofit program designed to help low-income and underrepresented students become college- and career-ready.
Wright is one of only 200 schools nationwide designated as an AVID National Demonstration School, a distinction earned through a rigorous application, screening and review process. The program was introduced at Wright by former principal Dr. Angie Crawford-Hicks.
“When I started here, I wanted to keep AVID going, so we get validated every three years,” said Stovall. “AVID teaches kids how to get organized and take notes, skills they will carry with them through their life.”
He wishes he had learned those skills earlier and believes they help students feel more confident navigating the education system.
As a magnet school centered on the AVID model, Wright attracts students from across the district. Unlike neighborhood schools, magnet schools are voluntary choice programs where students apply and are admitted through a lottery rather than being assigned based solely on where they live.
“This type of system requires parent support and buy-in,” Stovall explained. “That’s the only way we’ll get our best kids.”
Strengthening connections
Building strong partnerships with students and families is central to Stovall’s leadership philosophy. He focuses on maintaining unity among the school, its students and their families by fostering authentic relationships every day.
He regularly talks with students, checks in with families through phone calls and home visits, and frequently invites families into the school. When necessary, he even picks students up and drives them to school himself.
“We need the kids in our building to make an impact,” he said.
One initiative Stovall has introduced at Wright is an ethnicity and cultural awareness program that recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Black History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month through voluntary after-school sessions.
The school also celebrates its diverse community through “Wright Around the World,” a program that highlights the many cultures represented within the school.
“When we have teachers and students who want to be here for the right reasons, it shows in their work,” said Stovall. “And it’s phenomenal!”
Keeping students at the center
Currently, Wright has a maximum capacity of 255 students, and Stovall hopes to increase enrollment to 350-500 students within the next five years.
“We are doing great things, and more students need what we’re offering,” he said.
Above all, Stovall wants students to know that he genuinely cares about their future. He hopes to inspire them to continue learning and to pursue higher education to build successful careers as professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders
His greatest reward comes when former students return as accomplished adults.
“I’m in their corner, helping them achieve their dreams,” he said. “And it all starts with education.”
