Homepage

Principal’s Message

Greetings Eagle Nation,

I have had many bad days in my professional life. There were days that I questioned my teaching ability, days that I faltered in my mission, and days when my health failed me. There have even been days when self-doubt crept into my mind about my ability to lead. But no matter the bad days, I always think of a quote from Maxime Lagrace that says, “The sun always comes up, spring always comes after winter, and the river always reaches the ocean, always.” I say this because last week, we had a bad day and a half at Edgewater. Some of our students made poor decisions for which they must be held accountable. All schools may have a bad day or two during the quarter, semester, or school year. Our bad day turned into a broader discussion about who should attend Edgewater High School, prompted by social media posts I saw. The discussions I read made me reflect not only on my experiences as the school's leader but also as a former student and alum. 

I was raised in the 32808 zip code of Orlando and have attended all OCPS public schools growing up. In 1996, the EST program attracted me to Edgewater, but when I got on campus, it was the community and culture, and the diverse backgrounds of so many students that kept me here. To me, Edgewater is more than a zip code or the location where it sits. Edgewater is a community that has been the foundation for so many people who have graduated and led exemplary and amazing lives. Edgewater is special because of the students who attend the school, the teachers who educate, inspire, and believe in them, the administrators who motivate and guide them, and the families and community members who build partnerships for the success of all students. 

The bad days do not define who we are, nor does the area in which we live. What defines us is how we respond to those moments and come together as a community to make Edgewater the best learning environment, so that all students, no matter the zip code, have the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves. My commitment to excellence is not just for academics; it is to develop the whole student, to create a young adult ready to impact society positively, and to have them love their school and give back as much as I do. 

In Eagle Pride,

Dr. Alex R. Jackson

Principal