Administration

Kinyatta Garrett, Principal

Mrs. Garrett is a 1988 graduate of Indian River High School. After graduating from Indian River High she received a B.A. degree in history from the College of William and Mary.  She returned to Indian River to teach history and coach cheering and soccer. She also sponsored the SCA while teaching at IRHS. It was there that she learned more about leadership and decided to pursue a M.A. from the College of William and Mary in Educational Leadership.

After graduating, she worked with the administrative team at Western Branch High School under Mr. Brandriff.  She then became the Secondary Social Studies Supervisor for Chesapeake Public Schools. She worked with both middle and high school teachers across the district for five years.  She then became the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Oscar Smith High School and worked under the leadership of Paul Joseph. After 6 years in that position, she became the principal of Oscar Smith Middle School.  

Mrs. Garrett is entering her twenty-sixth year as an educator with Chesapeake Public Schools. She is excited to work with the Jolliff Middle School family in maintaining the tradition of excellence while creating new traditions and memories for staff, students and community.  It feels like a return to home for her, as her daughter was a Jolliff Jaguar years ago and her family lived on Dock Landing Road for over 7 years.  

She is a life-long learner who counts reading as a hobby.  Although she enjoys learning through books she reads, what she enjoys most is learning about the personality and character of those she works with and serves.  She is a high-energy people person who loves to work hard and have fun while doing it. She can’t wait to get reacquainted with staff, meet new staff, and students and families all committed to upholding excellence at Jolliff Middle. 

Allison Taylor, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Allison Taylor is a 1994 graduate of Deep Creek High School. She received her Bachelors of Science Degree from Radford University, Master of Arts and Education Degree with a concentration in Special Education from William and Mary, a Gifted Education endorsement from the University of Virginia and an Educational Specialists Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Virginia Tech. She is a lifelong learner and continues to pursue educational excellence daily.

Before joining the Jolliff Middle School family, Mrs. Taylor worked in the Department of Assessment and Accountability as an assessment specialist. She taught in the inclusion setting as a Special Education teacher for 12 years at Deep Creek Middle, Deep Creek High, and Carver Intermediate Schools. She resides in the Grassfield area and enjoys her country life with her husband and sons. Mrs. Taylor believes in equity for all and strives to ensure that all students not just meet but, exceed their full potential. She looks forward to establishing positive relationships with the Jolliff Middle School community.

Stephanie Horton, Assistant Principal

Ms. Horton is a proud product of Chesapeake Public Schools having graduated from Western Branch High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies/Elementary Education from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, served on the Longwood Judicial Board, and mentored incoming freshmen. While at Longwood, Ms. Horton was recognized for academic excellence and for being a citizen leader. She earned her Master of Science in Education degree in K-12 Administration and Supervision from Old Dominion University. Ms. Horton began her career in education as a teacher at Western Branch Middle School in August of 2000. This position holds a special place in her heart as she began her teaching career working amongst teachers whom had made an impact on her life when she was one of the students sitting in their classrooms when it was a junior high school.

Ms. Horton then had the opportunity to be an original member of the Jaguar family having served as a teacher for seven years at Jolliff Middle School. She then served as a Staff Development Specialist and Staff Development Administrator at the School Administration Building where she coordinated and provided training for teachers, administrators, and classified personnel. Following her time in central office, Ms. Horton served as an assistant principal at Hugo A. Owens Middle School.  Her other professional experiences include serving as the South Hampton Roads Teacher Coordinator for People to People Student Ambassadors. While serving as a teacher leader, she was fortunate to have the opportunity to explore educational experiences in Australia, New Zealand, China, France, Italy, England, Belgium, Monaco, Malta, and the Netherlands.

Ms. Horton believes that all students can learn and enjoys working collaboratively with students, teachers, and parents to ensure that our students are provided with the tools necessary to foster a path to success! She is excited to return to JMS as a member of the administrative team!