Palmer Trinity School

ALUMNEWS When his stint overseas was finished, Jesse returned stateside, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Today, he is the Director of Upper School and Assistant Head of School for International Studies at Friends Select, an independent Quaker school, in downtown Philadelphia—where he lives with his wife, Rebecca, and their three children, Liam, Fiona, Quinn. An active participant in a variety of athletic and club organizations during his time as a student at Trinity, Jesse is also remembered by many Alumni as the son of Dr. Edward (Ned) Dougherty—the founding Head of School for Trinity Episcopal School, and later, Palmer Trinity School's first President. As a Trinity Titan, Jesse was very involved in his school life. Serving as Editor of the school newspaper, he also participated in student government, helped produce the school yearbook, sang with the school choir, acted in school plays, and played three, sometimes four, sports each year. One summer, Jesse even recalls coming to campus to put together new lockers and fix the picnic tables. Given the small size of the school, these activities couldn't have been made possible without the incredible commitment of the teachers who worked there. "The faculty was fully dedicated and willing to participate in everything; they taught, they coached, they took us on field trips and they took us camping," Jesse remembers. "For anything to work, everyone had to do everything—and we all did it so happily." THE FACULTY WAS FULLY DEDICATED AND WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN EVERYTHING; THEY TAUGHT, THEY COACHED, THEY TOOK US ON FIELD TRIPS AND THEY TOOK US CAMPING. FOR ANYTHING TO WORK, EVERYONE HAD TO DO EVERYTHING—AND WE ALL DID IT SO HAPPILY. Working as a high school English teacher, a middle and high school athletic coach, and a department chair before accepting his current positions at Friends Select, Jesse knew early on that he belonged in the field of education. Spending his school summers teaching sailing, Jesse loved the connections he was able to make with his students. Furthermore, Jesse believes much of his inspiration to teach came from his time at Trinity Episcopal School. "In high school, I took on a lot of leadership roles and felt a calling towards mentoring others," Jesse recalls. "I was inspired by my teachers to be my best, and I believed I could be a good leader." Of these teachers, Jesse specifically remembers the influence his English teacher, Mrs. Joan Kjeldsen, had on him. "She believed my ideas were worth hearing," he says. "I often emulated her teaching style in my classroom." Above all, his greatest influence was none other than his own father. "Trinity was a great school, and for my Dad to see that creating Palmer Trinity would make an even better school is the sign of a visionary leader," Jesse says. "I want to lead like that." Having achieved so much already, Jesse still has one career feat left to accomplish: to become a Head of School, just like his dad. When he does, his memories of Trinity Episcopal School, and even the impressions he has of the school today, will be there to guide him. "Everything has changed, yet everything looks familiar," Jesse says. "I see students who are engaged, teachers who are inspirational, lots of activities, and above all, I see great leadership." Jesse in China W I N T E R 2 0 1 2 / 1 3 41

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