Dr. Jennifer Cruz has been selected as the head principal for Nichols Hills Enterprise Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Dr. Jennifer Cruz is a dynamic educational leader with a rich background in school administration, curriculum development, and professional development. She began her teaching career in 2000 as a Spanish teacher at Deer Creek High School. From there she moved to Putnam City Public Schools and worked as a Spanish and ESL teacher at Mayfield Middle School. It was there that she began her journey into administration, serving as an administrative intern at both the middle school and elementary levels.

In 2011, she and her family moved to Enid where Dr. Cruz worked as a middle school assistant principal, then moving to a head elementary school principal at Coolidge Elementary School in 2012. While at Coolidge Elementary, Dr. Cruz began pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at OSU. 

In 2017, Dr. Cruz accepted a superintendent position at Elmore City-Pernell Public Schools. Ultimately, Dr. Cruz returned to her roots as an elementary school principal with Lawton Public Schools and has served as the head principal at Ridgecrest Elementary. In her 23 years as an educator, Dr. Cruz has been a passionate advocate for educational innovation and teacher empowerment. She has led initiatives to improve teaching and learning processes through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and a school-wide intervention program, which helped to move her school from an F on the State Report Card to a C in less than two years. Additionally, Dr. Cruz has been instrumental in mentoring assistant principals, facilitating professional development workshops, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence among educators.

Dr. Cruz’s dedication to education extends beyond the school setting, as evidenced by her active involvement in professional associations and community organizations. She has served on the CCOSA Executive Board and has been a member of CCOSA, OASA, and ASCD for a number of years. She was a member of the Pauls Valley Rotary Club and served as the co-president of the Elmore City-Chamber of Commerce. She has been the recipient of local and state-wide grants, including the OETT Technology Grant. 

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Cruz also brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enriching the educational experience for all students. With a proven track record of leadership, innovation, and commitment to student achievement, Dr. Jennifer Cruz continues to inspire positive change in the field of education, leaving a lasting impact on students, teachers, and communities alike.