MHSscroll interviewed Dr. Abe Jeffers on Oct. 29, 2025. We inquired about the change in administration and his plans going forward. Jeffers informed he’s been in education for 34 years, moving his way up the echelons: having been a high school science teacher, central office, assistant principal and currently high school principal.
With Jeffers’ instatement into the role as Manchester’s new principal as of the 2025-2026 school year, many new changes have come about such as the weapons detectors and the enforcement of the ten minute rule. Jeffers stated that “the weapons detectors are a deterrent” and by having a deterrent to bombs and guns, we may be able to “prevent the terrible event in the first place.”
As for the newly enforced ten minute rule, Jeffers remarks, “The ten minute rule clears the bathrooms at the bell. That’s the biggest thing. Then that allows us to get in the halls and ask anybody in the hall where you’re supposed to be, where’s your pass, etc.. The power of that is to say there’s nowhere you need to be other than in the classroom…data wise, it’s incredible. And it’s getting better every week.”
Along with the ten minute rule, Jeffers has implemented the stairs rule, which is intended to clear the congestion in the halls and make the halls easier to navigate. The rule mandates that students only go down the bus loop stairs and up the main and side stairwell. He stated “I was getting trampled” and that it was a simple change to make. Because of this change, it is “easier to navigate school.” Later in the interview, we discussed the change in the announcements.
“I wanted the video announcements, but I wanted to give the teachers flexibility about when to show them. There was some concern about that. So we took it to leadership. The teachers, all department chairs and admin are in the group leadership group.” He stated that department chairs and admin meet once a month and after discussing the issue, they decided to put out a survey to the faculty. “I think it was 64 in favor of putting it back in first period with the PA announcement of pledge…If you have a better way of doing something or if this isn’t working, I’m not going to hang on to something.”
Jeffers later stated when asked about any policies he’d like to implement. “If I could wave a magic wand, I would have more project based learning and more flexibility in scheduling…high schools and public schools have been operated basically the same way for about 170 years now…it would be nice if some changes could come through, but that’s not going to happen anytime quick.”
Jeffers shared that he would like schools to have more flexibility in scheduling. When you have already mastered a course halfway through the year, you should be able to possibly “jump over and take a CTE class.” With the school system’s current “rigidity in scheduling,” he doesn’t feel it will be happening soon.
“I have personal goals of making sure I’m in every classroom and making sure I know all my teachers. Those are just kind of simple things, and I also want to help us achieve our school improvement plan here each year.”
Jeffers shared that Manchester’s School Improvement plan has three basic goals for the year. One, improving pass-advanced literacy, two decreasing the gap in biology scores and three increasing the amount of students enrolled in honors or advanced classes. He told us that he also wants to “get to know the teachers and staff.”
“I can only be me and I’ll lead in that way…I tell the teachers that I always want to do what the right thing is and the best thing, and I’ll ask their input.”
