Fayth Jenkins advances student-centered leadership at Innovation Academy SRQ

Fayth Jenkins, Head of School at Innovation Academy SRQ in Sarasota, Florida, is being highlighted for more than two decades of leadership focused on equity, whole-child learning, and community partnerships. Her work reflects a broader push to expand innovative education, support underserved students, and strengthen pathways into leadership for women of color.

Why it matters: - Fayth Jenkins leads Innovation Academy SRQ with a focus on academic growth, social-emotional support, and equitable access to learning. - Her approach centers on student voice, project-based learning, and whole-child development, which can shape outcomes for underserved students and families. - Jenkins also represents the growing need for more women, especially women of color, in education leadership.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Jenkins, the Head of School at Innovation Academy SRQ in Sarasota, Florida. - Jenkins has more than 20 years of experience in education. - Her career has included roles as a classroom teacher, project-based learning coordinator, dean of students, elementary school principal, and Head of School. - She now oversees daily operations at Innovation Academy SRQ, including staffing, compliance, safety, instructional support, and strategic planning. - The profile was published on July 22, 2026.

The details: - Jenkins began her education career in early childhood settings and worked across elementary and middle school environments, including K–8 charter schools. - 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 focuses on strengthening relationships between the school and the broader community through partnerships that add opportunities for students. - Jenkins holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Nebraska. - Her board service includes AMIkids, the National Math Foundation, and Suncoast Women of Action. - Jenkins has also participated 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. - She describes integrity, respect, and excellence as the values guiding her leadership.

Between the lines: - Jenkins’ career path reflects a belief that effective school leaders need experience at every level of education, not just administrative expertise. - Her emphasis on collaboration suggests that she sees school improvement as a shared effort involving teachers, families, community members, and outside partners. - Her comments on failure and mentorship point to a leadership style rooted in resilience rather than perfection. - The profile also underscores a persistent challenge in education: limited resources and the underrepresentation of women of color in senior roles. - Her focus on mathematics pathways signals an effort to strengthen a subject area often tied to long-term student opportunity.

What's next: - Jenkins is expected to continue building partnerships that expand student learning opportunities at Innovation Academy SRQ. - Her continued board work and leadership development involvement suggest an ongoing role in broader education and civic efforts. - The school’s emphasis on innovative, experiential, and wellness-oriented learning is likely to remain central to her agenda.

The bottom line: - Fayth Jenkins is using school leadership, community collaboration, and student-centered practices to push for more equitable and innovative education in Sarasota.