Principal Spotlight: Jessica Bruchey

When it comes to education and the student experience, Principal Jessica Bruchey knows it’s the little things that make a big impact. Some of her fondest school memories come from the fifth grade, where her class read The Little House on the Prairie and she first enjoyed the taste of kiwi fruit. These little experiences led Bruchey to help create the dedicated, involved community found at St. Joseph Academy.Bruchey is always looking for unique ways to engage students. She loves the flexible seating arrangements found in many St. Joseph classrooms. Instead of spending the day at their desks, students are free to spread out on the ground, relax on comfortable bean bags, or stand while puzzling out a problem. Students truly get to learn in the environment that’s best for them.Another feature that sets St. Joseph apart is the house system. Leadership starts young, and with the house system, Bruchey hopes to build confidence in young leaders while encouraging camaraderie, collaboration, and cohesiveness. Because the school mascot is a falcon, the houses are named after three different falcon breeds: the Merlins, the Aplomados, and the Amurs. All students in grades K-8 are placed in a house. They can earn points for their house by being kind, helping others, showing respect, receiving an outstanding grade on a test, or giving a spectacular answer in class. At the end of each trimester, the house with the most points enjoys a House Reward Party during the school day.Outside of work, Bruchey loves relaxing, knitting, and spending time with her husband of 20 years, as well as with their 9 year-old son. She enjoys singing and cantors at her parish. When she’s not at work, Bruchey dreams of St. Joseph’s future and is excited to see the school carry on its legacy.“In five years, I see my school as a school that has grown and flourished and produced students who are productive members of society, who have a love of God and keep God at the center of their hearts,” said Bruchey.With this goal in mind, she has a couple of lessons she wants students to carry with them throughout and after their time at St. Joseph’s Academy. The first is that God is with them and always will be, no matter what. It’s also important to her that they know that “anything they learn in life can never be taken away from them,” said Bruchey. “They can have their house taken, they can have their car taken — any belongings — but nobody can ever take the knowledge they have in their brains. So [I encourage them to] go out and make the most of it, and learn everything they can every day of their lives.”At our Polk County private schools, we foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us at 407-246-4800.