A Day with Ms. Leigh

Principal Leigh Ragsdale laughs with kindergartener Lyla Lowe while wearing sunglasses Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Leigh Ragsdale catches up on email over coffee shortly after rising Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at her home in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Leigh Ragsdale picks from a selection of sequined outfits Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. Sequins and brightly-colored outfits are part of her daily routine when dealing with young students. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale leads "morning gym," a time where the whole school convenes to discuss the day's objective, practice mindfulness and talk about expectations Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Third-grader Jazlyn Taver leads the pledge of allegiance as Principal Leigh Ragsdale holds a microphone for her Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale, center, talks with fourth-grader EBay James, right, as fourth-grader Mya Wilson works on a motivational poster Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale reprimands a student for fighting (not pictured) Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale dons borrowed army fatigues in order to conduct some unconventional discipline Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. By adopting the persona of "General Ragsdale, Ms. Leigh's evil twin sister," she was able to address playground misbehavior in a way which seemed more accessible to students. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale, dressed as "General Ragsdale, Ms. Leigh's evil twin sister," reminds students of the behavioral expectations for recess Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Principal Leigh Ragsdale, dressed in army fatigues as an alter ego "General Ragsdale" judges a footrace during recess Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Fourth-grader Aiden Hill performs a freestyle dance routine for Principal Leigh Ragsdale Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Jefferson Elementary in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)