Story provided by Stillwater Public Schools
Jason Riggs will join the Stillwater Junior High School administrative team next fall as an assistant principal, alongside fellow AP Kane Mach and Principal Crystal Szymanski.
“I am honored and humbled to accept this position at Stillwater Junior High School,” says Riggs, “Throughout my time in Stillwater, I’ve been fortunate to build impactful relationships with the incredible students and inspiring educators throughout the Stillwater community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue on this journey with the staff, students, and families of SJHS.”
A graduate of Edmond Memorial, Riggs received his elementary education bachelors from OSU in 2004. From 2004-2007, he taught seventh and eighth grade math and science at Bishop John Carroll School in Oklahoma City, followed by five years teaching fifth grade in Edmond. Since relocating to Stillwater in 2012, he has taught at Will Rogers Elementary as a math interventionist and fifth grade teacher and at Sangre Ridge Elementary, spending three years as a fifth grade teacher and the last four as a fourth grade teacher. He was the Sangre Ridge Teacher of the Year for the 2015-2016 school year.
Riggs completed a master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Oklahoma State University in May of this year.
Riggs says he will miss his colleagues and the students of Sangre Ridge but is excited to serve the community of Stillwater in a new capacity while continuing to learn and grow in the profession. “I am eager to collaborate with teachers and staff to optimize student learning and work to improve school culture,” he says. “I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with former students and colleagues.”
Riggs and his wife, Andi, have lived in Stillwater for ten years. They have two boys, Oliver, eleven, and Theo, seven. Riggs says he loves being able to work with kids or serve the Stillwater community in any aspect when needed, whether it be coaching YMCA soccer or prior service as president for AMBUCS, an organization which provides adaptive trikes for people with mobility challenges. “I see my role as a leader is to make genuine connections with students and colleagues and to make people feel valued for who they are.”
Christina Hutson will become the assistant principal at Will Rogers Elementary under Principal Dr. Meghan Eliason.
“I am excited to be joining Will Roger’s staff and to work with Dr. Eliason,” says Hutson, who is anticipating her new role. “My approach is for there to be a good mix of intentional, rigorous instruction mixed with good play and engagement with lots of hands-on learning. Teachers are guides for children on the journey of education, but a large part of learning comes from children exploring and their inherent curiosity.”
A Newcastle native, Hutson graduated from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1997 with an Early Childhood Education degree. She has previously worked for SPS as a kindergarten teacher at Sangre Ridge, before moving to Perry for a second grade position. For the last fourteen years, she has taught first grade for Perkins Public Schools. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and received her master’s degree from American College of Education in Educational Leadership in 2018.
“In my 22 years as an educator, I’ve come to know that it’s my role to help foster a sense of community, whether it’s in a classroom, throughout a school, or across a community. I’m looking forward to contributing my knowledge, experience, and passion for learning to Will Rogers,” Hutson says.
Hutson and her husband of 24 years, Justin, operate a local automotive business and have called Stillwater home for most of their married life. They have three children, Colby and Jayla attending Wichita State University and Kayla attending Southern Illinois University.
“I know I’m going to miss my Perkins school family. I love that community and the people that live there. I will definitely miss seeing my work friends and students every day,” says Hutson. “But I am excited for this next chapter in my life and professional career and look forward to working with, learning in, and contributing to my new Will Rogers community.”
“We’re excited to have these new administrators join our leadership teams,” says Superintendent Marc Moore. “I’m happy we are able to offer an avenue for Mr. Riggs to grow and expand his career while remaining in the Pioneer family. It’s also good to identify talented educators, like Ms. Hutson, in the vicinity that can be brought into our organization. I’m confident both will do well in their new roles and wish them the best of luck.”
Both administrators assume their new roles on July 20.
