story by Claire Miller
Jacob Bland (M.A.T. ’09, Cert. ’17) was familiar with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) well before his teaching career in the district began.
The Atlanta native grew up visiting the APS schools where his mom was a teacher and principal in the district for many years.
When he went to college, he decided to become a physical education teacher – combining his interest in becoming an educator with his passion for sports.
“I worked at summer camps and loved leadership opportunities in coaching and scouting,” he said. “In my last year of college, I did my student teaching and knew that being in schools teaching kids was what I wanted to do.”
For 10 years, Bland taught physical education at Price Middle School and Sutton Middle School in Atlanta Public Schools and coached boys’ soccer at the middle and high school levels.
In that time, he earned his master’s in health and physical education from Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development. He remembers working with Professor Emeritus Jackie Lund and other faculty members in the Department of Kinesiology and Health to further develop his teaching skills.
“Dr. Lund helped shape not only my thinking as an early educator, but also my approach to teaching physical education by encouraging me to think critically, anticipate different scenarios and make intentional decisions in both my lessons and my career,” he said. “Her passion, mentorship and genuine care for her master's students left a lasting impact on my professional journey, and I will always be grateful for the lessons she taught during those long summer months.”
Bland soon found a mentor in his school who supported his goals, and he made a point to contribute more to his school community than just his teaching. He led professional learning communities, assisted with testing and engaged in other school activities.
“I knew I could provide more to the school. I wanted to continue to grow and lead,” he said. “If you want to be a leader, you have to extend yourself and do things that aren’t in your job description.”
His hard work paid off when he was offered an assistant principal position at Morningside Elementary School just a month into his 11th school year as a P.E. teacher.
“This was my first venture in an elementary school and I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I spent a lot of time learning from a seasoned assistant principal and followed in my mom’s footsteps.”
While working at Morningside Elementary, Bland came back to Georgia State to earn his Tier II leadership certification. Then, in 2018, he became principal of Morris Brandon Elementary School, the largest elementary school in APS.
He and his family have since built a deep connection to the school. Not only are his children students there, but he attends sporting events and takes time to get to know the parents and families.
“This is an incredible school and community. It’s a really great model for what a successful school can look like,” he said. “I do believe that it’s a great place to learn, work and teach.”
Not long after becoming principal, Bland was selected for Georgia State’s 2020 class of 40 Under 40, a program that recognizes and honors the most influential and innovative graduates who embody the university’s values.
He’s back at Georgia State this year as he begins his doctorate in educational leadership. His research is focused on what supports first-time principals need in their first three years on the job and the leadership principles that make them successful.
He’s coming to campus this summer to take his initial doctoral classes with local educational leaders who share his passion.
“The best professional learning comes when you connect with people who do similar work,” he said. “I’ve got two other close APS colleagues in my cohort and I’m making connections with other people. We’re going to lean on each other for the next three years.”
Bland’s career trajectory has been a blend of athletics, mentorship and leadership, and he’s excited to continue this work at the university.
“Georgia State plays a critical role in educating students in Atlanta, from the teachers we have in our schools to the student teachers we host,” he said. “In our program, we have Saturday classes and evening classes because they understand that in educational leadership, we have responsibilities to our schools. I think that level of empathy for students is invaluable.”