The Jag 

By Laci Winship 

Reporter 

The job of assistant principal at South is no easy task, but Ashley Rowland brings enthusiasm to her work. She is South’s newest edition to the administration department and is thrilled that her path has led her here. 

“Blue Spring South chose me,” she says. 

Rowland is consistently working on new ways to help students and encourage hard work. 

“Well, I’m working right now on tardies and truancies and trying to find a way that we can help kids that can’t quite get that figured out,” she says. 

Rowland has always enjoyed working and connecting with students, but she has had many roles in doing so. She started out as a high school English teacher for Raymore Peculiar and Blue Springs but decided on being an assistant principal to support students on a deeper level. 

“I felt like I was spending a lot more time with kids that weren’t my students,” she says. “I could do more and help more kids if I were in a position where, like, ‘I know you’re in a crisis, and I know we’re talking through this, but like, I have to go teach my English one class right now.’ So, this job allowed me that opportunity.” 

Prior to teaching, however, Rowland worked in law enforcement for nearly ten years. 

“I worked for the FBI and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children before I was a teacher,” she says. “I left because I felt like I had gotten into that field to help people, help kids, and I didn’t really feel like I was doing that anymore, and so I became a teacher.” 

When it comes to education, Rowland is sure to be knowledgeable. She currently has four degrees and is working on her fifth. 

“I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in criminology from Florida International University, a master’s degree in education from Avila, a specialist’s degree in education and administration from Northwest Missouri State, and now I’m working on my doctorate in administrative leadership,” she says. 

With her extensive schooling, Rowland is held to a high standard, especially in her current position. She has had to adjust to the different ways in which people treat her when moving from teacher to assistant principal. 

“As a teacher, people would say all the time, ‘you’re wonderful, thank you for what you do.’ But then in this role, people are mad at you more often,” she says. “So, [I’m] trying to keep that perspective.” 

She also sees herself differently than others might. 

“People see me as a boss, which I will probably never see myself that way,” she says. “And everybody looks at me differently now. That’s kind of taken some getting used to.” 

Outside of school, however, Rowland spends the majority of her time with her family. She has a husband (Elliot) and a daughter (Charlotte) who is 3. They enjoy spending quality time with their puppy Macy as well. 

“It’s like work and them,” she says. 

Rowland also has many friends who have young daughters. 

“Our lives revolve around ballet class and snacks and parks,” she says. 

She continues to learn from her colleagues and implements her many years of education into her work today. With the title of assistant principal, she has and will continue to learn about people while being the best mentor for students. 

“I’m just trying to be really present and come in every day with a good attitude,” she says. “Trying to do one thing that’s positive and happy in my day with a kid. It’s not always easy, but I’m trying.”