Jim Jarvis started his career at Ooltewah High School more than 40 years ago when he was leading the Owls football team.
After leaving the school system, he later returned as a teacher, eventually serving as an assistant principal.
These days, Jarvis is settling into the principal’s office at OHS following former principal Mark Bean’s sudden retirement last month.
Originally from East Tennessee, Jarvis has spent most of his time in Hamilton County. He owned an athletic store for a time, but his relationship with Ooltewah High began in 1969.
“Obviously it’s changed a lot since I started here,” Jarvis laughed. “When I came here the school was seventh grade through 12th and we had only 700 kids. Now we have that many here in just one grade!”
The school has really been a large part of the growth of the area, Jarvis said, and he’s happy to play a role in its history. OHS plays a part in his family history, too. His two sons and stepdaughters are graduates of the school.
“Ooltewah is such a unique community. I’ve just really seen it grow from a rural farming town to an upscale place. There are large developments,” Jarvis said. “I watched it go from one stoplight to traffic jams.”
Though he’s been at OHS for a long time, he said he hopes to continue to see it grow for the better.
“I don’t think Ooltewah has reached its potential to grow yet, and I want to see OHS keep up with the pace of that, and remain,” he said. “I want us to meet and exceed the educational needs.”