In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud sits down with John Jameson, Principal of El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Arkansas. John leads a nationally recognized comprehensive high school that has been named one of the best high schools in America by U.S. News and World Report and earned a B rating from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Wendy and John talk about what it means to lead a large high school in a post Covid world, where students need more than curriculum and pacing guides. They explore how assessment, AI, instructional time, and college access all intersect with student well being and long term success, including the life changing impact of the El Dorado Promise scholarship program.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome and El Dorado High School introduction

01:17 John’s journey from coach to principal

03:28 Starting high school leadership in the Covid year

04:12 Making remote learning work for 1,200 students

06:18 Supporting teachers and students through lockdown

08:50 Post Covid shifts in reading and student habits

10:55 Reducing screens and rebuilding classroom interaction

13:02 New dyslexia screening rules at the high school level

19:14 DoK levels and what assessment data revealed

23:44 How AI and ChatGPT show up in classrooms

26:08 Planning with the 15 Day Challenge and essential standards

33:40 Redefining what school is and sharing the El Dorado Promise

Why You Will Love This Episode

This episode gives a clear, practical view of high school leadership in a time of rapid change. John Jameson speaks honestly about the lingering effects of Covid on student behavior, literacy, and social skills, and how his team is working to rebuild habits that support real learning, not just compliance.

You will also hear practical insights on using data, AI, and planning tools responsibly, so they enhance rather than replace professional judgment. John’s explanation of the El Dorado Promise and the district’s extensive course offerings shows what is possible when a community invests in its students’ futures, from trade pathways to four year degrees.

If you care about secondary leadership, instructional time, and giving students real choices after graduation, this conversation will give you both perspective and concrete ideas.

Connect with Principal John Jameson

Website: https://www.eldoradopublicschools.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-jameson-5666645b/

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Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/

About Unlock 360°

Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, and one breakthrough at a time.