Our School Leader
Innovative Schools Fellow Executive In Residence
My Experience
Jazminique “Jaz” Holley is an award-winning educational leader with more than a decade of experience serving students and families across urban communities. Throughout her career, she has served as a teacher, Instructional Coach, Department Chair, Dean of Instruction and Culture, Head of Academics, Head of School, and systems leader across traditional public, charter, and faith-based schools. In these roles, she has led significant gains in student achievement, school culture, instructional excellence, and organizational performance.
Born to a resilient teenage mother and shaped by firsthand experiences with adversity, Jaz understands the transformative power of opportunity. As a product of urban education herself, her life’s work is rooted in a simple belief: a child’s race, zip code, or circumstances should never determine their future. She is passionate about creating transformative educational experiences that help young people discover their brilliance, achieve at high levels, and positively impact their communities.
A proud graduate of Harris-Stowe State University, Jaz credits the College of Education with preparing her for the day-to-day realities of urban education. Learning from professors who were former principals, superintendents, and educational leaders, she developed a strong foundation in instructional leadership, academic rigor, high expectations, and a deep belief in the potential of all students.
Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including Outstanding Instructional Leader by Missouri Learning Forward (2024–2025), the St. Louis American Salute to Young Leaders Award (2024), Highest Instructional Culture Index recognition from The Opportunity Trust (2024, 2025), selection to the Focus St. Louis Emerging Leaders Cohort (2022), and the Outstanding Alumni Leader Under 40 Award from Harris-Stowe State University. Most recently, she was honored to be selected for the 2026 Innovative Schools Fellowship through a highly competitive national search.
Driven by purpose, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to children, Jaz is dedicated to expanding opportunity, developing future leaders, and creating lasting change for generations to come.
My Why
“My Why” As a child, I grew up in a low-income, single-parent household. Several traumatic events could have set me back. However, I had the tenacity to become a first-generation college graduate. I earned a Ph.D. at the young age of 26. I had a vision to achieve what no one modeled for me. Throughout my career, I started several programs to re-enroll students who dropped out of high school. I saw promise in students who others gave up on. I have personally and professionally served on several founding teams because I can see possibilities and dare to innovate. I believe God has destined everything in my life to prepare me for this opportunity. St. Louis is ready for a school that is rooted in love. Crime and violence are escalating in St. Louis, and families are demanding physical and emotional safety for their children. I see Friendly Academy meeting the needs by being a high-quality school and empowering students to live purposefully. Our innovation in applying service learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and entrepreneurship will serve others and capture the interest and needs of this generation.