Bexley Middle School’s Assistant Principal, Jerome Price, met Jostens Yearbook Rep Bonnie Blackman when he was a member of his high school’s yearbook staff in the early 2000s. Little did he know then how profoundly impactful this new relationship would be to his education career over a decade later.

Price’s experiences as a history teacher in Washington, D.C. and Rockville, Md. influenced his decision to pursue his current role in administration. “I thought, what if I could do for an entire school community what I was able to do for the culture of my own classroom? That always stuck with me, so I took that jump.” As an administrator and doctoral student, Price is energized by the opportunity to impact both students and teachers in his school’s community.

Then in 2022, years after Blackman first impacted Price as a yearbook editor-in-chief, she influenced his career as a school administrator. She introduced him to the world of resources dedicated to building a positive school culture and climate that is Jostens Renaissance — specifically, the Jostens Renaissance Global Conference (JRGC). “I heard nothing but positive things,” he said. “The opportunity to network with folks who wanted to shake up the culture of their school communities in ways that are unimaginable sounds cliché, but it was true. You don’t really know until you get there.”

Jerome Price with Jostens Rep Bonnie Blackman and Jostens CEO Michael Burgess at Jostens Renaissance Global Conference in Dallas, Texas.

IMPACTFUL. EMPOWERING. INTENTIONAL. FUN!

 In a Q&A with members of the Renaissance team, Jerome Price smiled as he described his experience at JRGC. “It felt like a pep rally every day; whether it was a larger meeting in the ballroom or in a breakout session, the energy was consistently positive but at the same time authentic. I got the sense that we were part of a community, a family.”

Which breakout sessions did you find most impactful?

“Dwight Carter was phenomenal! His sessions on ‘How to Run Effective Meetings’ and ‘Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity’ were very practical and to the point. He talked about how to make the most of the time with your staff, which was something that I could take and apply to my own sphere of influence. I think I went to all his sessions, and there are a few reasons why: he’s a school leader from Ohio and I’m in Ohio right now, so there’s a connection there. We’re also connected with our backgrounds as African American males who are educators. There aren’t a lot of examples in terms of school leadership, so to be able to see that — see myself in him — I thought was very powerful. Finally, he’s someone who’s accessible, who I have in my phone and can text for insight. That powerful relationship stems from JRGC.”

Jerome Price attending a breakout session at JRGC with another educator.

What was your favorite part of the conference?

“Keynote speaker Keith Hawkins really shaped my perspective and thinking. He mentioned that ‘you are who you choose to be,’ which sounds so simple, but just he said the things that we all needed to hear in that space. I remember waiting for him at the end of the Leadership Academy because I wasn’t going to leave without connecting with and telling him that what he said made a difference to me. Because a lot of times, you’ll never know the thing that you said that shaped someone’s perspective. I don’t know if Keith Hawkins remembers me, but I remember him, and that’s all that matters.”

Are there any insights, ideas or examples that were shared that have stuck with you today?

“Bonnie Blackman shared something with me as we reflected over breakfast one morning. She said, ‘It’s not what you want to be, but who you want to be that matters.’ Oftentimes we think of experiences from the perspectives of our own journey but not necessarily their impact. Her words made me think more about the impact of the work we do as educators, whether it’s in that conference space, walking down our hallways or in a team meeting. It’s that mindset shift that I think is important, and I appreciated that reminder from her.”

Have you been able to implement any learnings or takeaways from JRGC at your school?

“One area that’s been a direct connection with JRGC and what I do here [Bexley Middle School] is through PBIS, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support. PBIS has been here before, but I think my JRGC experience has made it even stronger — it’s an initiative that we’ve taken even more ownership over. I can give you an example: we started a Students and Staff of the Month program. Students not only vote on their teachers, but they also include why they voted for them. We then share these comments with the winning teacher, so they have a chance to hear positive feedback from their students throughout the year. The energy around this new initiative is great. When I make the announcement each month, I ask for a drum roll and I can literally hear the room above me banging on their desks. It’s been very positive. Our student development has probably been the biggest piece that has grown from this program.”

Bexley Middle School’s October 2023 Students and Staff of the Month winners proudly pose for a picture.

Experience the magic and feel the difference of the Jostens Renaissance Global Conference firsthand this summer just like Jerome Price. Part inspiration, part practical strategy, you’ll also leave feeling reenergized about education with ideas you can bring home to your unique school community. And in true Renaissance fashion, Price is now hoping to provide inspiration to others. He and Blackman have applied to teach a breakout session together at JRGC 2024.

Learn more and register for The Jostens Renaissance Global Conference here. We’ll see you there!

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