The Assistant Principal’s office on the second floor is brightly decorated–pictures line the shelves, a fluffy white rug covers the floor, and lime green furniture fills the room. A desk with a desktop computer sits at the back of the room with a rollie chair parked in it. But one thing is missing: the Assistant Principal.

Ruth Jurgensen prefers to work in her other office, the Upper School Division office, one floor above. “I feel like I’m more in my element surrounded by students,” Jurgensen said. “As Assistant Principal, there’s more of a focus on all grades and less of an interaction with students, but I love the connections.”

Late last spring, former Upper School Head Peter Neissa announced his leaving, but at that point it was too late to find a replacement, according to Jurgensen. Jurgensen, who previously had worked as the head of the Little Red Elisabeth Irwin High School in New York, came to the decision with Principal Dan Frank that Jurgensen should fill in.

“Because of Ms. Jurgensen’s expertise as a school administrator and running an Upper School, the two of us thought this was a wise and manageable arrangement for the year,” Frank said. “She’s a total pro–she can handle it. The other administrators are all stepping up if there’s anything extra that needs to be done. We all pitch in.”

Jurgensen believes that she is handling it. “I don’t get overwhelmed,” Jurgensen said. “There’s no choice–I have to run these two offices, and that’s what I’ll do. It’s about the mindset.”

Upper School Coordinator Rolanda Shepard tries to help out whenever she can. “I never want to see her fail,” Shepard said. “If she asks me to do something, it’s all hands on deck. My mentality is to make sure that the upper school continues to run smoothly and that she’s able to do what she needs to do.”

As Assistant Principal, Jurgensen’s job has in part a long-term focus, she said. She works with department chairs on curriculum and helps evaluate and observe various faculty.  She also organizes school safety drills.  As Upper School Head, Jurgensen works on the day-to-day operation of the upper school, which she spends most of her time on while at school. This includes working with students, organizing meetings, and talking with grade heads.

Shepard is in charge of Jurgensen’s schedule, and on Shepard’s computer screen, bright pink boxes fill Google Calendar columns of Jurgensen’s schedule for each week. These boxes represent standing meeting times, as opposed to the open gaps when Jurgensen is free.

“You would think she has space available,” Shepard said, “but usually someone is always coming in–someone is always needing her.”

In terms of balancing both roles, Jurgensen feels she works on whatever needs to be done. “I do a lot of running around,” Jurgensen said. “It’s also a lot of mental shifts throughout the school day, but that’s the job. During the day is really for the upper school, but if the fire department comes, I have to deal with that.”

Jurgensen often has to bring unfinished work home. “I do a lot of work at night,” she said.  “I do homework too.  But the time that it takes is coming away from my family–it’s not coming from these offices. My family understands that, though, and they’re all in, too.”

Shepard recognizes Jurgensen’s time commitment. “I don’t think I could do two-full time jobs–I think she’s crazy,” Shepard said, smiling. “But she’s doing it, and we need to appreciate the time she’s taking away from her family.”

While Frank, Jurgensen, and Shepard have trust in Jurgensen’s abilities, some students are wary of the increased responsibility.  “It’s definitely a lot of concentrated power, especially for someone who is relatively new to Parker,” junior Jett Bronstein said. “I would say she is doing a good job, but over time, it seems like stress could hinder her ability to adequately carry out both jobs.”

Though Jurgensen will remain Interim Upper School Head for the year, the search for a new head begins on November 1. A candidate will be found by January, Jurgensen said, and will start July 1.

In the meantime, Jurgensen is enjoying her time as Upper School Head and is hoping to improve the upper school experience. “When you have an opportunity to implement change, you should try,” Jurgensen said. “I’m working very closely with the grade heads and the Dean of Students, and we’re looking at things like discipline, how we’re supporting students equitably and intentionally, and how to weave Civic Engagement into the curriculum.”