EAST ST. LOUIS — The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Terrien A. Metcalf-Fennoy as the new Interim Principal of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy.
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation has appointed Terrien A. Metcalf-Fennoy as interim principal of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy in East St. Louis, Illinois, effective July 1, 2026, bringing in an educator with more than three decades of public education experience.
The foundation announced the appointment in a statement, saying Metcalf-Fennoy will lead the academy as it continues its mission of preparing students to become confident learners, compassionate leaders and lifelong achievers.
For the past 20 years, Metcalf-Fennoy served as principal for Madison Community Unit School District #12, where she led instructional programs serving students from pre-kindergarten through high school. The foundation said she was recognized during her tenure for improving student achievement, strengthening school culture, empowering educators and building partnerships with families and the community.
“Terrien is an accomplished educational leader whose passion for children, commitment to academic excellence, and proven ability to inspire both students and educators make her an outstanding choice to lead the JJK Academy,” Jackie Joyner-Kersee, founder and CEO of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, said in the statement. “Her experience, vision, and heart for serving young people align well with our commitment to providing every child with the opportunity to win in life.”
Before becoming a principal, Metcalf-Fennoy was a reading coach with Madison Community Unit School District #12, supporting teachers in implementing research-based literacy practices and facilitating professional development. She also spent more than a decade with East St. Louis School District 189 as a teacher and reading interventionist.
Metcalf-Fennoy holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education, a Master of Science in educational administration, and an Educational Specialist degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is completing a Doctor of Education in educational leadership at Maryville University, with anticipated graduation in April 2027. She is certified to teach in Illinois and Missouri and holds a superintendent endorsement.
Her professional recognitions include being named the 2023 Illinois Principals Association Principal of the Year. She is also a member of the Illinois Principals Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and has received multiple Illinois State Board of Education Academic Improvement Awards.
“I am honored to join the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation and the JJK Academy family,” Metcalf-Fennoy said in the statement. “I believe every child deserves a learning environment where they are challenged, supported and inspired to reach their fullest potential. I look forward to furthering Jackie’s dream and partnering with our dedicated staff, families and community as we continue building a culture of excellence, opportunity, and achievement for every student.”
