By Morgan Solomon
Photos by Cathy Rose

Jen Wingert approaches leadership the same way she approaches education: with attention, intention, and a deep respect for the people doing the work.

As principal of Grant Elementary School and three-time graduate of the University of Missouri, Wingert spends her days learning, teaching, and leading in the communities she knows best.

“Teachers who work here genuinely love kids,” Wingert says. “And if the love for children is there, then we can conquer anything.”

That philosophy has shaped Wingert’s career in education and earned her the Outstanding Administrator Award from Columbia Public Schools in 2025. The honor recognizes not just a title, but a leadership style grounded in service, trust and a consistent focus on students.

Leading Through Service

Wingert often describes herself as the lucky one. As an administrator, she has a front row seat to the daily work of teachers and staff who show up for students in ways both big and small.

“These are stellar humans who are working with kids every single day,” she says. “Whatever I can do to help them, that’s my goal.”

Her approach to leadership centers on support rather than supervision. Wingert focuses on removing barriers, listening closely and creating the conditions educators need to thrive in their classrooms. The result is a school community built on trust, shared responsibility, and a commitment to student success.

Learning Beyond Expectations

Wingert’s path in education has been shaped by a willingness to remain open to new experiences. She encourages student teachers and early career educators to approach each day with curiosity rather than certainty.

“During my undergraduate program at Mizzou, I did all of my student teaching in first grade, and I thought that was the only place I wanted to be,” she says. “Then my first teaching job was in sixth grade, and it ended up being the best teaching experience I’ve ever had.”

From teaching in rural schools to working in the heart of Columbia, each experience added depth to her understanding of students, families and school communities.

“Every experience that’s been part of my journey has been important,” she says. “Teaching rural was fabulous and hard in different ways than teaching in the middle of Columbia.”

Those experiences reinforced a lesson that would become central to her leadership.

Every Student Is Our Student

For Wingert, this belief extends beyond classroom walls. Whether or not a student is officially on a roster, Wingert views responsibility for student success as collective.

“Even if you don’t have them in your classroom, every student is our student,” she says. “That’s how I felt as a teacher, and that’s how I feel as a principal.”

Building Purposeful Belonging

For Wingert, outstanding administration is less about systems and more about culture. She focuses on creating school environments where students feel safe, valued and capable of growth, even when learning feels challenging.

“If you can create an environment where a five-year-old feels valued and important, even when learning is hard, friendships are hard and problem solving is hard, that matters,” she says. “It becomes safe to have vulnerability. It becomes safe to grow as a human.”

That sense of belonging is intentional. Wingert believes it is built through relationships, consistency and a shared understanding of purpose among educators.

“I think “the why” is important for most everything in life,” she says.

Leadership With Lasting Impact

Wingert’s recent recognition as the 2025 Outstanding Administrator by Columbia Public Schools highlights her leadership, but its influence extends far beyond the award. By uplifting educators and strengthening school culture, her leadership creates ripple effects that touch students, families and communities.

That leadership has been shaped by years of learning and growth, much of it rooted at the University of Missouri. Wingert earned three degrees from Mizzou over the course of her career, returning to campus not out of obligation but a desire to keep learning and refining her practice.

Those experiences helped prepare her for leadership grounded in curiosity, reflection and service, values she now brings to her work as a principal.

For Wingert, the recognition is meaningful, but it does not change how she views her role.

“I get to see teachers in action,” she says. “And that’s the best part.”