Patrick “Jake” Jacobs, Principal at Smithfield-Selma Senior High School, was named 2007-2008 Principal of the Year at the district’s second annual recognition banquet Monday. Jacobs has been principal at Smithfield-Selma since 2005. Before taking the helm there, he served as Principal at Riverwood Middle School, and was an assistant principal at Selma Middle School. Jacobs taught physical education at: South Johnston High School, where he served as head wrestling and girls’ track coach; Meadow School, where he served as athletic director, football coach, and baseball coach; and Williston Middle School in Wilmington, where he also coached soccer. Jacobs also served as an assistant football coach and assistant wrestling coach at New Hanover High School. Jacobs noted that his goal as an administrator is to establish and maintain positive relationships. “Creating positive relationships is the key before anything else,” he said. From 1996 to 2000, Jacobs served as a teacher mentor, and was named Wrestling Coach of the Year (Triangle 3A) in 1996. He has also been involved in his church, Tee’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, and in the community as a little league coach, wrestling coordinator, and church. At Smithfield-Selma, Jacobs has led the implementation of a Freshman Academy and PLCs (Professional Learning Communities). Jacobs received a $1,500 award from the Johnston County Education Foundation. Larry McCoy of McCoy Contracting, sponsored the event, which featured a three-course meal, and originally scored dinner music and a mini dinner theatre by employees from the JCS Facility Services department. Jacobs, a graduate of UNC-Wilmington, is married to Angie Jacobs, who is the principal of Micro-Pine Level Elementary. They have two children.
