MADISON TOWNSHIP — School hadn’t yet started, but the library at Madison Primary School was abuzz with new students showing off their skills.
Incoming kindergarteners sat in tiny chairs as adults gently guided them through a series of activities to assess their readiness for the year ahead.
Each child was asked to identify letters and count to 10. They stacked blocks and cut strips of paper with safety scissors. Monitors took note of their letter and number knowledge, fine motor skills and ability to follow instructions.
In the hallway, parents sifted through tables of easy readers. Educators were setting up their classrooms and laminating wall decor in teachers’ lounge.
The pre-school year rhythm had begun in a familiar building with a new name. All Madison students in prekindergarten through second grade will attend Madison Primary, inside the former Madison South Elementary building, this year.
At the helm are a new pair of administrators and Madison alumni, Jessica Shaffner and Regan Pore.
Shaffner began her teaching career at Madison, spending 13 years as a seventh and ninth grade science teacher before taking an administrative position in another district.
“I love that she is caring but no nonsense,” Pore said of her colleague. “She’s a strong leader in that sense.”
When a job opened up as the new PreK-2nd principal, Shaffner saw an opportunity to come home — and to make an impact.
“If a kid decides they don’t like school now, they may never give it another chance. So we have a huge responsibility,” she said. “We get to mold these kids from the very beginning and what we do does impact the rest of their education career.”
Shaffner knew immediately who she wanted in the office next door — an experienced early childhood educator who graduated from Madison High School two years before she did.
“Regan’s personality is infectious,” Shaffner said. “She has strong ties to the community and is going to be able to build relationships with students and families. There’s nothing more powerful that an administrator can do at this level.”
“The day I accepted the position, I happened to go to a grad party in which several of (Pore’s) friends were in attendance. I said, ‘I know you all have a group chat. I literally need everyone to get Regan to come here.’”
The text campaign worked.
“A lot of people reached out when the position came open and I’m a believer in signs,” Pore said.
The job presented a homecoming opportunity for Pore as well. She began her career at Bellville Elementary, then spent 14 years at a private school in the Cleveland area.
Pore said she’s passionate about early childhood education because it sets a foundation for the rest of a child’s life.
“Kindergarten through second grade is my jam,” she said. “You learn how to be kind to one another in kindergarten. You learn how to share. You learn how to use your words. You learn how to read. You learn how to write.
“But I think one of the best parts about K-2 education is you’re teaching them just to be good humans.”
‘We have the opportunity to do something we’ve never done before’
Shaffner and Pore are taking on more than the typical challenges of running a school building.
They’re also in charge of shepherding the community through a big transition.
“It was very sad to see the end of some neighborhood schools. That’s is a hard pill to swallow for everyone — us included. We all went to those neighborhood schools,” Shaffner said.
“But we have an opportunity to do something grade banded this way that we’ve never done before. So our goal is to hit the ground running and never look back.”
The closure of neighborhood schools is becoming more common as school districts across the state cope with enrollment declines and tight budgets.
Mansfield City Schools has closed several neighborhood schools over the last two decades. Lexington Local Schools shifted to grade-specific buildings a few years ago and began construction on a single elementary building this fall. Shelby City Schools abandoned its two elementary schools and transitioned to a campus style setup in 2022.
As the district navigates the shift from three neighborhood elementary schools to grade level buildings, both women said their goal is to build a culture centered on positive relationships and high expectations.
“I think we’re going to raise the bar a little bit,” Pore said. “We want to be known as the place that knows kids and teaches them well and gives them a really good starting point.”
