Influential Women spotlights Fayth Jenkins for school leadership in Sarasota

Fayth Jenkins, head of school at Innovation Academy SRQ in Sarasota, is being recognized for more than 20 years of work in education focused on equity, whole-child development, and community partnerships. Her leadership centers on project-based learning, student support, and expanding opportunities for underserved students and families.

Why it matters: - Fayth Jenkins leads a K-8 charter school in Sarasota with a focus on innovation, equity, and student-centered learning. - Her work speaks to bigger pressures in education, including limited resources, budget constraints, and the underrepresentation of women of color in leadership. - Jenkins has centered her leadership on helping underserved students and families access stronger academic, social, and emotional support.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Jenkins as an educational leader and Head of School at Innovation Academy SRQ. - Jenkins has more than two decades of experience across early childhood, elementary, and middle school education. - Her career has included roles as classroom teacher, project-based learning coordinator, dean of students, elementary school principal, and Head of School. - Jenkins is based in Sarasota, Florida, and leads Innovation Academy SRQ. - Her profile includes a direct link to her Influential Women page.

The details: - Jenkins oversees staffing, compliance, safety, instructional support, and strategic planning at Innovation Academy SRQ. - She focuses on building school-community partnerships that support student learning and create additional growth opportunities. - Innovation Academy SRQ has expanded its emphasis on health and wellness, the arts, and innovative learning environments under her leadership. - Jenkins has supported outdoor and experiential learning spaces that connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. - She leads with an emphasis on project-based learning, student voice, and whole-child development. - Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. - She also earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Nebraska. - Jenkins serves on boards including AMIkids, the National Math Foundation, and Suncoast Women of Action. - Her leadership background includes participation in Leadership Florida and the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy with the Florida Department of Education. - In 2024, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools named her a Champion Charter School Leader.

Between the lines: - Jenkins’ career path suggests a leadership style built from classroom experience rather than moving straight into administration. - Her emphasis on collaboration reflects a broader view that school improvement depends on teachers, families, community members, and other stakeholders working together. - Her comments on failure and resilience point to a leadership philosophy that treats setbacks as part of growth rather than as dead ends. - Her focus on mathematics pathways suggests she sees math support as both an academic priority and a way to widen future leadership opportunities.

What's next: - Jenkins plans to keep strengthening community partnerships and support for underserved students. - Innovation Academy SRQ is likely to continue investing in experiential learning, wellness, the arts, and student engagement. - Jenkins says emerging women leaders should set their own goals, challenge outdated practices, and build their own legacy through collaboration and change.

The bottom line: - Jenkins is using school leadership to push for a more equitable, connected, and hands-on model of education.