“I’m a fixer.”
That is how Dr. Jasmine Bateman describes herself, and within minutes of meeting her, it is clear why she has earned that title. She is Phoenix International School of the Arts new Principal.
Her presence is keenly noticed as she walks the hallways of the school. As she stops to speak to the students and staff, her face and smile illuminates with a sense of vision, conviction, and a quiet fire. Dr. Bateman is clearly on a mission to transform.
Her transformation strategy includes not just leading but building. She is rebuilding culture, relationships, and expectations slowly, brick by brick, hallway by hallway, child by child.
“I thrive in chaos,” she says with a confident smile. “Where others see disruption, I see opportunity.”
A Calling, not a Career
For Dr. Bateman, education is not just what she does, it’s who she is. As a child growing up in Paterson Public School district in New Jersey, while other kids played house, she began building her first school. It began with her collecting discarded worksheets and lesson plans at the end of the year, dragging them home in a cardboard box, and set up a backyard classroom for neighborhood kids. By age 15, she was tutoring children just a few years younger than her. It was the start of her teaching and leadership journey.
“I thought I was going to be a molecular biologist,” she laughs. “But I kept landing in educational spaces, summer camps, Resident Assistant roles, and mentoring. The kids always found me,” Bateman said.
She eventually earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Delaware State University, then returned to her hometown to teach in one of the most challenging schools in Paterson. From there, her leadership journey accelerated, as she took on roles including, a second-grade teacher, third grade teacher, fifth grade teacher, then school administrator. By 24, she had passed every major school leadership exam, including the superintendents.
By age 27, she had earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Business Administration and became a third-generation doctoral degree holder. Her mother and grandmother pursued their doctorates alongside her. “It’s literally in my DNA,” she says. And now, with a young daughter of her own, she is extending her legacy.
A Principal with Purpose
Bateman began her tenure at Phoenix International School of the Arts this past May. She describes her leadership style leads with both structure and soul accompanied hands-on, hallway-first, heart-forward. Do not expect to find her hiding in the office, but at the bus stop, in the cafeteria, walking the halls with her laptop and cart, greeting students by name.
“Kids know your intent,” she says. “They’re used to principals being unapproachable. I’m a relationship builder. Relationships will take you places a degree never can,” she said.
A woman of faith and raised by a pastor, her work is deeply spiritual.
“I sit with kids at lunch. I can look at a child and see something is off, even if they don’t say a word. That’s God-given.”
Raising the Bar, Redefining the Norm
Dr. Bateman came to Charles County after leading at the infamous Eastside High School (yes, the one from the movie Lean on Me). More recently, she served as an assistant principal at Thomas Stone High School, where she led instructional planning and raised academic achievement.
Now at Phoenix, she’s bringing that same energy to a creative, innovative charter school on the rise. In just a few weeks, she implemented policies that have already shifted school culture, including a school-wide cell phone policy that has been respected without pushback.
Why? Because students feel the difference.
“They will say, ‘It is different now. I can feel it,’” she says. “They want structure. They just need to trust that it is real.”
Her 90-day plan focuses on three pillars:
- Accountability for all which includes scholars, staff, and families.
- Academic excellence and innovation through a framework she calls RISE (Reflect, Innovate, Serve, Excel).
- Whole-child, whole-staff wellness which addresses social emotional needs and cultural responsiveness.
She has held restorative circles with staff, has spoken with many students and parents, accompanied with home visits, and is creating a school culture grounded in respect.
Legacy in the Making
Dr. Bateman says she’s not here to make a simple ripple, but to make a mark. Not just on the students she serves, but on the institution itself.
“I’m not building a legacy for Jasmine Bateman,” she says. “I’m building a legacy for Phoenix International School of the Arts.”
Her vision and mission are very clear. In five years, she sees PISOTA as a network of schools, a thriving arts-centered pipeline from elementary to high school. She envisions a Blue-Ribbon school, a place where people say, “Greatness comes from there.” Where the names of Phoenix alumni are spoken with pride.
“I want to know, five years from now, where are our kids? Are they in college? Are they changing the world? And how did this school shape their path?” she added.
Her immediate plan includes: a “Where Are They Now?” initiative that will track alumni impact and bring them back to inspire the next generation.
For Dr. Bateman, it’s never been about titles, but outcomes and about making sure Phoenix International School of Performing Arts doesn’t just survive, but they thrive.
“We’re not just running a school, we’re running a movement and we’re doing it with love, structure, and high expectations.” She concluded.
EXCLUSIVE: Candidate Interview Ralph E. Patterson II Charles County 2026 Elections
The Charles County Journal launches an exclusive candidate interview series at its La Plata studio, giving Charles County voters an in-depth look at every active candidate running for Commissioner President and Districts 1 through 4 in the 2026 election.
Future Storytellers’ Academy Gives Creative Youth a Powerful Outlet for Their Voice
Creative students often have big ideas, strong opinions, and powerful stories—but without the right outlet, those talents can go unnoticed or underdeveloped. The Future Storytellers’ Academy was created to change that, offering students in grades 6–12 a structured, supportive space…
EXCLUSIVE: Charles County Journal Launches Candidate Interview Series Ahead of Charles County 2026 Elections
The Charles County Journal launches an exclusive candidate interview series at its La Plata studio, giving Charles County voters an in-depth look at every active candidate running for Commissioner President and Districts 1 through 4 in the 2026 election.
Island Music Co., Phoenix International School of the Arts, and Free Guitars 4 Kids Team Up
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Island Music Co., Phoenix International School of the Arts, and Free Guitars 4 Kids Team Up to Create a Life-Changing Musical Experience for Maryland Students La Plata, MD – February 10, 2026 — Island Music Co. and Phoenix International…
How 4-H is Growing the Next Generation of Agricultural Leaders
More than $20 million in agricultural goods are produced each year in Charles County, Maryland, making agriculture a vital force in the local economy and a cornerstone of community life that sustains local markets and families. It’s a region where…
For more information on how to become a community contributor to the Charles County Journal and provide stories on local community resources, events, and more learn more.
