Meet the team...
The people who make it happen here at Preston School
Dr. David Jager serves as Principal of Preston School in the Wayne Highlands School District. Located in Lakewood, Pennsylvania, Preston serves students from Kindergarten through Grade 8 and represents the strong connection between education, families, and community that is an important part of the Wayne Highlands tradition.
As Principal, Dr. Jager works collaboratively with students, teachers, staff, families, and District administration to provide a safe, welcoming, supportive, and academically engaging environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Leadership Focused on Students
Serving students from Kindergarten through eighth grade provides a unique opportunity for educators to become an important part of a child's development over many years.
Dr. Jager is committed to ensuring that students receive the guidance, encouragement, and educational opportunities they need throughout each stage of that journey. From welcoming young children beginning Kindergarten to preparing eighth-grade students for the transition to high school, his leadership remains centered on student achievement, personal growth, responsibility, and preparation for the future.
Supporting Teaching and Learning
Strong educational leadership begins with supporting the teachers and staff who work with students every day.
Dr. Jager works alongside Preston's educators to promote meaningful learning experiences and maintain high expectations for students. Academic instruction is complemented by opportunities that encourage students to develop their creativity, communication skills, confidence, and individual interests.
By focusing on the whole child, Preston School helps students develop not only academically but also into responsible, respectful, independent, and confident young people.
Small School, Strong Community
One of Preston School's greatest strengths is its close-knit atmosphere and strong relationship with the Lakewood and surrounding communities.
Dr. Jager recognizes the importance of maintaining strong partnerships among parents, families, teachers, support staff, administrators, and community members. These relationships help create an environment where students know they are valued and where families can remain actively connected to their children's education.
In a community school such as Preston, relationships matter. Students have opportunities to know their teachers, develop lasting friendships, participate in school traditions, and understand the importance of contributing positively to the community around them.
Encouraging Character and Responsibility
Education extends beyond academics. Schools also help young people develop the character and personal qualities they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Under Dr. Jager's leadership, students are encouraged to demonstrate respect, kindness, responsibility, integrity, perseverance, cooperation, and leadership.
These qualities help create a positive school culture while preparing students to become successful members of Honesdale High School, their communities, and eventually the workplaces and organizations they will join as adults.
Preparing Students for Their Next Chapter
Every student's journey through Preston ultimately leads toward another important milestone—the transition from eighth grade to Honesdale High School.
Dr. Jager and the Preston faculty and staff work to ensure that students leave their K–8 experience with a strong academic foundation, greater independence, confidence in their abilities, and an understanding of the responsibilities that come with entering high school.
The lessons, friendships, traditions, and relationships developed during their years at Preston become an important part of each student's Wayne Highlands experience.
Proud to Lead Preston School
As Principal, Dr. David Jager is proud to serve the students, families, faculty, and staff of Preston School and to help continue the Wayne Highlands School District's commitment to educational excellence.
Through strong relationships, high expectations, community involvement, and a genuine commitment to student success, Dr. Jager helps ensure that Preston remains a place where students can learn, grow, belong, and prepare for bright futures.
Strong Relationships. Strong Community. Successful Students.
Gerard Burns serves as Assistant Principal of Preston School in the Wayne Highlands School District. Located in Lakewood, Pennsylvania, Preston School serves students from Kindergarten through Grade 8, providing a close-knit educational environment where students, families, educators, and the community work together to support student success.
As Assistant Principal, Mr. Burns works alongside the school's principal, faculty, support staff, students, and families to help maintain a safe, welcoming, respectful, and engaging learning environment.
Supporting Students at Every Stage
The Kindergarten through eighth-grade structure at Preston provides a unique opportunity to support students across many important stages of their development.
Mr. Burns helps students navigate these years by promoting responsibility, respect, positive decision-making, and academic achievement. Whether helping younger students develop the skills necessary to become successful learners or encouraging middle school students to prepare for the greater independence of high school, his work remains focused on helping each student grow.
Building a Positive School Culture
A successful school is more than classrooms and curriculum. It is a community where students feel that they belong.
Mr. Burns works collaboratively with teachers and staff to foster a positive school culture built upon kindness, integrity, cooperation, accountability, and mutual respect. Students are encouraged to understand that their actions contribute to the school environment and that everyone shares responsibility for making Preston a great place to learn.
By building positive relationships with students, Mr. Burns helps reinforce expectations while encouraging young people to learn from their experiences and become increasingly responsible members of their school community.
Supporting Teaching and Learning
Effective school leadership also means supporting the educators who work with students every day.
Mr. Burns collaborates with Preston's teachers, support staff, and administration to help provide students with meaningful educational experiences. Academic learning is complemented by opportunities in technology, music, art, physical education, activities, athletics, and other enrichment experiences that contribute to the development of the whole child.
These opportunities allow students to discover their strengths while developing important skills in communication, creativity, teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.
School, Family, and Community
One of the defining characteristics of Preston School is its strong connection to the Lakewood and surrounding communities.
Mr. Burns recognizes the importance of partnerships among students, families, educators, administrators, and community members. When schools and families work together, students benefit from a stronger network of encouragement, consistency, and support.
That connection helps maintain the welcoming, community-centered atmosphere that makes Preston an important part of the Wayne Highlands School District.
Preparing Students for the Future
Every year at Preston represents another step in a student's educational journey. From the excitement of Kindergarten through the responsibilities of eighth grade, students are continually developing the knowledge, confidence, and independence necessary for what comes next.
Mr. Burns and the Preston School team work to ensure students are prepared for their transition to Honesdale High School and the new academic, extracurricular, and personal opportunities that await them.
Proud to Serve Preston School
As Assistant Principal, Gerard Burns is proud to serve the students and families of Preston School and to contribute to the educational mission of the Wayne Highlands School District.
Working alongside the school's administration, teachers, support staff, and families, Mr. Burns helps ensure that Preston continues to be a school where students are supported, challenged, encouraged, and proud to belong.
Supporting Students. Building Character. Strengthening Community.
Timothy Morgan serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Wayne Highlands School District, providing leadership to a school community dedicated to educational excellence, student achievement, innovation, and opportunity. As Superintendent, Mr. Morgan works closely with the Board of Education, administrators, faculty, staff, students, families, and community members to guide the District and ensure that students receive a high-quality educational experience.
Leadership Focused on Students
At the center of Mr. Morgan's leadership is a commitment to the students of Wayne Highlands. From a child's first day of Kindergarten through graduation from Honesdale High School, the District strives to provide an educational environment where students can learn, grow, discover their talents, and prepare for successful futures.
As Superintendent, Mr. Morgan provides leadership across the District's academic programs, operations, student services, technology, facilities, safety initiatives, extracurricular programs, and long-term planning. His role helps bring these different areas together around a common purpose—supporting students and the educators who serve them.
Supporting Educational Excellence
Wayne Highlands School District serves students through Stourbridge Primary School, Lakeside Elementary School, Wayne Highlands Middle School, Honesdale High School, Damascus School, Preston School, and the Wayne Highlands Virtual Campus.
Although each school has its own traditions and identity, Mr. Morgan works with District administrators to maintain a shared commitment to academic achievement, responsible leadership, student wellness, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Strong schools also require strong educators. Supporting teachers, administrators, and staff with the resources they need to succeed is essential to creating meaningful educational experiences for students.
Preparing Wayne Highlands for the Future
Public education continues to evolve, and school districts must continually prepare for new challenges and opportunities. Under Mr. Morgan's leadership, Wayne Highlands continues to balance the traditions and community values that have long defined the District with investments in curriculum, technology, school safety, facilities, communications, and innovative educational opportunities.
Preparing students for the future means ensuring they are ready for many different pathways. Whether graduates choose college, career and technical education, military service, employment, entrepreneurship, or another opportunity, Wayne Highlands seeks to provide them with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and experiences necessary to succeed.
Schools and Community Working Together
Wayne Highlands has always benefited from the strong relationship between its schools and the communities they serve. Mr. Morgan recognizes that successful public education depends upon collaboration among families, educators, local organizations, businesses, community leaders, and residents.
These partnerships strengthen the educational opportunities available to students and reinforce an important principle: our schools are an essential part of the communities they serve.
Proud to Lead Wayne Highlands
Serving as Superintendent carries the responsibility of protecting the traditions of the District while helping shape its future. Through collaboration, thoughtful leadership, and a continued focus on students, Timothy Morgan is committed to advancing the mission of the Wayne Highlands School District and creating opportunities for every student to succeed.
His leadership reflects the belief that every decision made throughout the District should ultimately support the people at the heart of public education—our students.