Jason Hanline

For Jason Hanline, leadership means having expectations and a no-nonsense attitude. After graduating from Forsyth Central High School (FCHS), he earned an associate degree from the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville Campus, a bachelor's degree in English with a teaching certification from UNG in 2010, and came back again to get a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in 2018.

In audio-visual technology and film classroom at FCHS, Hanline keeps his expectations realistic and uses them to help his student succeed.

"Leadership is about making sure your students have what they need, whether it is equipment, facilities, or opportunities, to be able to show off all of the things that they've learned," Hanline said. "In the beginning, we set the foundation, and we'll spend the entire year learning until finally, it culminates in one short movie at the end of their first year."

The process is very hands-on, guided and directed so that by the time students are seniors, they are working without him.

"They've learned enough. They've got enough. They're coming to me asking, 'We need to be able to do this. Can you help us get that?' And I say 'yes' and I make phone calls and arrangements. So I'm acting more as a producer than a teacher at that point, which is the goal because I don't want to have to hold their hand through every single step," Hanline said.

Hanline is straightforward to describe his style of leadership, too.

"There's plenty of nonsense that goes on in the classroom and it's a lot of fun. But I do have high standards and I hold my kids to those high standards and expectations," Hanline said.

As a result, Hanline said he tries to treat each student with dignity and respect.

"They will behave like teenagers, and even the good ones will falter and make bad choices. It's expected. They've got to have the opportunity to make mistakes. But then they also need the safety to know that, all right, you've made a mistake. You paid your consequence," Hanline said. "Now we're back to square one. Don't do it again. Yes, I'm going to hold them accountable, but I'm also going to help and support them."