Thomas Metcalf Laboratory School is excited to welcome Dr. Jason Surian as the principal beginning on July 1, 2021. Dr. Surian has extensive experience in the elementary classroom and in school leadership, having served as principal for seven years in Michigan and Illinois. He currently works as a kindergarten teacher at Pepper Ridge Elementary School in Bloomington.
“Dr. Surian is going to bring a new excitement to Thomas Metcalf School because of his energy, his focus on students, and belief in innovation,” said Dr. Barb Meyer, Acting Director of the Laboratory Schools. “Working with a school connected to Illinois State University is something that inspires him, and he looks forward to continued growth with that partnership. The entire lab school community looks forward to his leadership.”
With over 20 years of experience in the field, Surian has taught at the elementary level, in a bi-lingual program, and as an adjunct faculty member at Illinois State. He has master’s degrees in elementary education, educational leadership, early childhood education and will complete his master’s in special education at Illinois State in 2022. He also holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University.
“I just love learning and I think that’s so important as a teacher. It’s part of who I am and what I do”, said Surian. “My room is a place where kids work and explore and my job is to guide, mentor and facilitate that learning for my students.”
Since Surian joined the Bloomington-Normal community a few years ago, it has been of a dream of his to join the laboratory schools. As a teacher, administrator, and adjunct faculty member in the College of Education, he loves how the classroom, research, and teacher/pre-service teacher mentorship all combine in this role and in the laboratory schools.
“I am honored to be afforded the opportunity to join Metcalf,” said Surian. “I’m looking forward to bringing back the excitement after going through the pandemic. Seeing the kids faces, working alongside the teachers, and joining such a successful and engaging team of teachers are all really exciting.
