Conversation with Kevin Jones II
Winter 2022
Inaugural 2018 Cohort member, Kevelin Jones II, is currently the Superintendent of Flint Community Schools in Flint, Michigan. Kevelin sat down with us recently to share how his leadership journey has unfolded since TEL.
Kevelin is an award-winning school leader whose leadership has deepened through difficult times. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kevelin became the Assistant Superintendent of Flint Community schools just as all schooling went virtual. At around the same time, Kevelin’s father died suddenly of Covid, and he was called to take over as head pastor for his father’s church. The year was filled with steep challenges but by 2021, Kevelin was promoted to Superintendent in recognition of his capacity to steward and lead the community.
Being a Servant Leader
When Kevelin took over as Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent, the district was dealing with remote learning, staff turnover, and vacancies. He worked hard to ensure that all scholars had computers and internet at home. He acknowledged that, “all of that took patience, and much meditation and prayer to be able to lead the district.” But as Kevelin explained, “you don’t have to do it alone. You build a loyal team around you, and you work with those folks, you empower them to be who they are.” Further, “you never know what people are going through. If you are a servant leader, you'll care about these things. You'll care about the fact that, ‘Hey, you’re not smiling today. How are you?’...That's how you cultivate a team because they know you care.” In other words, “I would say to anyone who’s becoming a leader, just be a servant. Care about the needs of your people.”
It is a Calling
Kevelin stays with the challenges because education is his passion and a calling. As Kevelin said, “I love education. Even when I'm not working, I love to see a child's brilliance. I'm always curious to see what they know and their intellect. So it's a heart thing, and there’s a reason why I’m here: I’m here to make change.” Kevelin was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, and graduated from Flint schools. To come back to the district when it was in decline, Kevelin believes that he was, “called to serve in Flint Community schools.” Similarly, “as a pastor, I was called to do ministry. So it's not whether I like it or not, because it's a calling, my heart is in it.”
TEL Was a Confirmation
Kevelin shared, “my heart has always been to build relationships first and everything else will follow.” When Kevelin came to TEL, he realized that, “it wasn’t just ‘PD where you bring your laptop.” Instead, “TEL was, ‘Let's get to the heart of why we do what we do, and let's take our heart along with us in what we do. And that's what it was, TEL was confirmation to my spiritual life, to be comfortable enough to take my heart into my career.” He realized that, “no matter what politics that I have to deal with, or what attitudes or behaviors from others, always keep your heart at the table.”
A Spiritual Connection
For Kevelin, his heart is always guided by his connection to Spirit. He knew that, “even when my father died in 2020, what kept me going was a prayer life.” Kevelin explained, “that’s why those of us who are spiritual, we depend on the Spirit. We depend on our spiritual connection to give us the strength we need to move on…Having that sound mind and spiritual connection is what’s going to keep you grounded in this day and time.” In offering some final words of advice, Kevelin shared that, “the work that TEL is doing, this really needs to be the first component, because when the adults settle themselves, and have that emotional and spiritual connection that they need, they will truly be able to relate to today’s child.”