Christa Turner

Christa Turner will be the new principal at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau at the start of the next school year.

When interviewed by the Southeast Missourian for a recent story, she said she sees Jefferson as a school with some unique challenges but that there are some good things going for students.

"It will be totally different from what I have been doing, but I am looking forward to that," Turner said.

She certainly seems to be taking the right attitude into the position.

Jefferson Elementary has a difficult demographic for educators. Ninety percent of the students there receive free or reduced-price lunches, compared to the 35 percent at Jackson Middle School, where Turner has been an assistant principal for the past five years.

Jefferson has been making positive strides on standardized testing, but it's a school that demands strong leadership.

Turner holds a bachelor's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and a master's degree in school administration from the University of Missouri.

From the little we know about Turner, she certainly appears to have the tools to do the job well.

We wish her well in her new role, and hope she can keep the momentum going at Jefferson. We encourage the parents and community surrounding Jefferson Elementary to embrace her as the school's new leader.