Jane Armbruster

Dear Providence Spring Elementary families,

Welcome to Providence Spring Elementary School! We are eager to be a part of your child’s academic journey.  

Our school is exceptional in so many ways: our treasured 23-acre campus and outdoor learning areas, our 3D printer, our community service projects, our leadership in district and state academic excellence, our local history that surrounds us and the community partnerships we build.

Our instructional program is built on four pillars that provide a foundation for our success. Pillar 1 is our belief in the Paideia philosophy. It is through participation in civil discourse, emphasizing universal ideas and values, that we teach challenging and rigorous content. If you are a new parent, please refer to www.paideia.org to read about this child-centered program and feel free to contact us with any questions. Providence Spring is a demonstration site for the National Paideia Center.  

Pillar 2 is our commitment to 21st-century learning as we incorporate technology in meaningful ways in our daily lessons as we prepare our students to become digital leaders. In addition to using technology as an educational tool, we focus on the ethics of technology use with instructional sessions to develop safe and conscientious digital learners. Furthermore, our Robotics team won the North Carolina state championship and participated in the World Competition!

Pillar 3 is our conviction in the value of outdoor learning and experiencing the world beyond the confines of brick walls. Our PTA has established outdoor learning spaces that support environmental conservation and outdoor education. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences cited our campus as one of the premier schoolyard habitats in the state. We treasure our school grounds and the experiences our children have as they become future environmentalists.  

Pillar 4 is our passion for character development as we model the norms and values that underscore democratic thought and personal and civic responsibility. Here at PSE, content instruction is important, but it is no more important than helping to build the good character that gets one through personal hardships. Strengthening our moral compass so we do what’s right, even when no one is watching, supports both the common good and our shared futures.    

These four unique pillars form the foundation of what we think, what we say, what we do, and who we are at PSE. As Aristotle stated, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is not education at all.” We believe our school would not be the same if any of these pillars were missing. This approach to learning unifies our sense of civic duty to understand and develop the whole child through each lesson, each day.

At our school, we build each year on a tradition of excellence and academic success, setting higher goals for ourselves and our students. Our school has received many recognitions and honors, including:

National Blue Ribbon award for high academic performance;
Award-winning clubs, including Robotics team, chess club, Science Olympiad teams and Quiz Bowl; and
Recognition by the National Paideia Center as a demonstration school.

I invite you to participate in our school community as often as you can. Please remember to register as a CMS volunteer. All volunteers must register each year and select Providence Spring Elementary as the site. Please also remember to bring your photo ID to sign in upon entering the school as we are working diligently to keep our school safe.

Finally, I would like to tell you a little bit about me. Growing up, I dreamed of becoming a teacher -- to make a difference and to connect with children. I belong to a family of educators; my grandfather was a principal in China, so working with children and having a drive for success were instilled early. Additionally, my enthusiasm, positivity, work ethic, integrity and willingness to always learn and grow are my trademarks.  

I earned my bachelor’s degree in education and my master’s degree in educational leadership at Winthrop University. I obtained my academically gifted certification, National Board certification and most recently became a member of the National Paideia Faculty. For the past 22 years, I have gained teaching and leadership experiences throughout CMS schools such as University Park Creative Arts Elementary, McAlpine Elementary, Park Road Montessori Elementary, Walter G. Byers K-8, Huntingtowne Farms Elementary and Elon Park Elementary. My diverse experiences provide me insight into the importance of growing the whole child.

I have a strong belief that every child is valuable, must be heard and can learn. As a principal, I believe Einstein said it best, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” The four pillars that drive our instructional program inspire our hearts and minds. I am humbled by the immense work that our teachers do. I take this impactful role as principal seriously when shaping the educational experiences of a large population, connecting with not just students, but also teachers, parents and the community.

I am eager to start our journey together! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns: si-jeun.armbruster@cms.k12.nc.us  or 980-343-6935.  

Thank you for choosing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Providence Spring Elementary.

Jane Armbruster, Principal