Breadcrumb Navigation

Celebrate National Principals Month with Principal Zahn
Posted in on October 22, 2026

Q&A with Principal Zahn

October is National Principals Month, so it’s a great time to shine the spotlight on a few of ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s outstanding principals. Today we’re highlighting Jerod Zahn.

Zahn is in his first year as the principal of Rodriguez Junior High, but he’s not a new principal. Zahn has worked in ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ for 25 of his 26 years in education and has experience at seven ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ junior high schools. He was a teacher and coach at Gunn and Bailey, an assistant principal at Young and Boles, and the principal at Ferguson and Shackelford. Prior to his arrival at Rodriguez this year, Zahn was ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½’s director of school improvement.

We caught up with Zahn and asked him a few questions.

〉What inspired you to become an educator, and what led you to become a principal?
I got into education because I wanted to teach and coach.Ìý I had a lot of coaches and teachers in my life that were impactful. I wanted to make that same impact on other kids.Ìý
Ìý
What led me to becoming a principal was my desire to make an impact across the entire school. This role gives me the opportunity to support all teachers and staff to best impact our students.ÌýÌý
Ìý
〉What is the most important part of the job?
In the principal role, the most important thing is the impact we as a school have on our students. At the junior high level, we need to be equipping students with the academic skills, social skills, and work ethic to be successful in high school.ÌýÌý
Ìý
The best part is seeing our students push themselves, grow, and excel in the classroom, in fine arts, athletics, or another area of interest. Seeing them gain the confidence to try new things, challenge themselves, and overcome adversity is super rewarding.Ìý
Ìý
〉What is the hardest part ?

The hardest part of the job is not being able to be in more than one place at a time. I can’t always be with my teachers in professional learning, at every school event, in every classroom, etc. I would like to be able to be at more activities and things than I can make happen. I like to be in the work side-by-side with people, but that is not realistic.

〉What is something about your school that you wish more people in the community knew?

I would like our community to know how hard our kids work and how genuinely nice our student are. I would also like them to know how dedicated our staff is to the students and parents of Rodriguez JH.

〉What do you hope every student feels when they walk through the doors at Rodriguez?

Seen, valued, appreciated, that we believe in them and have high expectations for them.

〉What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I still enjoy playing video games and will regularly talk to my students about the new PS5 or Switch games. I am currently playing my Switch 2 the most right now. I mainly play Mario Kart because my whole family can play together.

〉What’s your favorite way to recharge after a busy week?

Time with my wife and kids. My kids are both off at school, so time with them is appreciated when they are home. Playing with our four dogs and just being outside is always great as well.ÌýÌý

〉Do you have a favorite restaurant in Arlington or Grand Prairie?

One of my favorite restaurants in Arlington is Sukothai. It is a small Thai place in North Arlington off of Fielder. The food is great and the owners are very nice. I only get Medium hot on the food … Thai hot is another level.Ìý

〉What’s one song that would have to be on the soundtrack of your school year?

I am gonna go old school with “Eye of the Tiger.” Our staff and students are showing up every day working hard to get better. “Eye of the Tiger” is just one of those songs that makes you want to work and keep going.ÌýÌý