MADISON – The Patriot family has welcomed Jane Herndon as Instructional Partner.

The position at Bob Jones High School attracted Herndon because of her interest in working with teachers and in instructional strategies, methods and theories.

“Teachers are so strapped for time and have so many things on their shoulders,” Herndon said. “I want to provide practical resources for teachers and find ways to help them in any way they may need it.”  

“The big question that guides each day for me is, ‘How can I help?’ Along with that mindset, I’m expected to build relationships with teachers, celebrate learning in classrooms, support new teachers and work with the intervention team,” Herndon said.

In addition, she assists with grant/award applications, researches sites and books for ideas/best practices and works with other instructional partners to build professional development sessions. She attends other schools’ embedded professional development, partners with administration on coaching cycles and assists as needed with campus initiatives.

Herndon’s career started at Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham in 2006. She previously worked at Bob Jones, James Clemens High School as English department chair, as Secondary Instructional Specialist for Madison City Schools, at Florence High School and again at James Clemens.

She earned a bachelor’s degree and instructional leadership certification at Auburn University. For a master’s degree in secondary education, Herndon studied at University of Montevallo.

From her career experiences, Herndon fondly remembers as a first-year teacher working with her mentor, Sarah Love, at Oak Mountain High School. “Sarah was everything to me. She was a constant guide and resource and observed my classes and gave me feedback, provided any materials I might have needed and always was a reassuring presence for me as I trudged my way through that first year.”

“Her impact on me was so great that I still quote her and use ideas she gave me,” Herndon said. “She absolutely modeled for me what it meant to be a teacher. She genuinely cared about my success and helped me in any way she possibly could.”

Herndon’s husband Josh works on Redstone Arsenal.

An avid runner, Herndon enjoys group runs with friends on weekends and entering races. “I also just love being outdoors. We have a golden retriever mix named Talley, who we love to spend time with as well,” she said.