By Keighla Schmidt, Staff Writer 

This fall, it might be harder to tell who’s more excited on the first day of school at M.W. Savage Elementary – the students or new Principal Jeremy Willey.

The 32-year-old has been in the principal’s chair since July, but Willey has had few opportunities to meet with kids or interact with staff in a daily school setting, which is something he’s really excited about.

“I want to start building relationships with the students and the families and get to them, as well as the staff,” he said. “I want to know how the building runs and what I can bring to it.”

And legitimately, Willey could have a lot of things on his mind to make him intimidated as September draws near, so is anything making him nervous?

“Nothing,” he said. Jeremy Willey: Jeremy Willey is the
new principal of M.W. Savage
Elementary School.

The nerves of steel could be due to his background and a supporting cast that have prepared him for the job.

Willey has taught fifth and sixth grade, been a dean of students, has an administrative license, is the husband of a former kindergarten teacher and the son of a retired elementary school teacher.

“Teaching was always something I enjoyed doing,” Willey said. “Education has always been something that’s been very valued.”

Willey caught the teaching bug when he was still in high school in Bloomington and was working with a program called Kid’s Safari.

“It was the positive interaction with kids seeing them grow and develop and relating to the kids,” Willey said that attracted him to teaching.

After high school and his experience helping out with the pre-school program, Willey went to the University of Minnesota and received his undergraduate and master’s degree and later went to the University of St. Thomas for his administrative license.

Returning to his middle school alma mater, Willey taught sixth grade at Olson Middle School. His mother, Jane, was at Olson Elementary School, which was connected to the middle school.

At a back-to-school ceremony one year, Willey received tenure.

“It’s a big ceremony and they make a big deal of it,” Willey explained. “Earning tenure in Bloomington and having my mom there; that was really special.” 

His mom has said she plans to volunteer at the school.

 “I’m excited to bring my family to a place that prides itself so much on taking a family approach education,” he said.

A new beginning

Willey said he decided to apply for the principal position at M.W. Savage Elementary because it seemed like a good opportunity.

“Everything I have heard about this community is likened to a small family,” he said. “It really seems like a place for kids to grow and really discover who they are.”

His ability to recognize the school’s heart as well as his love of learning were part of what attracted district officials to him over approximately 70 other applicants.

“He has a deep understanding of school and how students learn. And he has passion for what makes students successful,” said Sandi Novak, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. “His skill base was something he brought to the table.”

The skill base established in the classroom was something Willey said he left reluctantly, but it was to fully understand how a school building runs and to be the one in charge of it.

“It was hard to leave the classroom,” he said. “But I’m somebody who has high expectations for myself and my expectations for level of services is high. I’m going to be a much more visible administrator who really gets to know the kids.”

To help students, Willey said he plans to do things both in and out of the classrooms with the kids.

 “I’ll try to be an administrator that is in the classroom as much as I can be with the kids,” he said. “I want the kids to know who I am and that I care about them. If that means having lunch with them or playing kickball at recess, I’ll do it.”

Willey and his wife Kristi live in Bloomington with their 8-month-old son, Emmett. In their spare time the couple, professed “foodies” like to try new restaurants.

 Keighla Schmidt can be reached at kschmidt@swpub.com.