Fayth Jenkins leads Innovation Academy SRQ with a focus on equity and student learning

Influential Women is highlighting Fayth Jenkins, the Head of School at Innovation Academy SRQ in Sarasota, Florida, for her work expanding innovative, equitable learning opportunities. Jenkins brings more than 20 years of experience and has been recognized for leadership tied to student success, community partnerships and whole-child development.

Why it matters: - Fayth Jenkins is focused on improving student outcomes through whole-child support, project-based learning and stronger school-community ties. - Her work at Innovation Academy SRQ reflects a broader push for more equitable access to innovative education, especially for underserved students and families. - Jenkins also points to shortages of resources, budget pressure and underrepresentation of women of color in education leadership as barriers that affect access and innovation.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Fayth Jenkins, Head of School at Innovation Academy SRQ in Sarasota, Florida, in a profile published July 22, 2026. - Jenkins has more than 20 years of experience in education across early childhood, elementary and middle school settings, including K–8 charter schools. - Her career has included roles as classroom teacher, project-based learning coordinator, dean of students, elementary school principal and Head of School.

The details: - Jenkins oversees daily operations at Innovation Academy SRQ, including staffing, compliance, safety, instructional support and strategic planning. - She has focused on building partnerships with the surrounding community to extend learning opportunities for students. - Innovation Academy SRQ has expanded its emphasis on health and wellness, the arts and learning environments built to encourage creativity and exploration. - Jenkins has supported outdoor and experiential learning spaces that connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. - She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Nebraska. - Jenkins serves on the boards of AMIkids, the National Math Foundation and Suncoast Women of Action. - Her leadership experience includes participation in Leadership Florida and the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy with the Florida Department of Education. - In 2024, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools named her a Champion Charter School Leader. - Jenkins said a key lesson in her career was that leaders cannot “exist on an island.”

Between the lines: - Jenkins frames failure as part of leadership growth, saying setbacks helped build resilience, mentorship habits and problem-solving skills. - Her emphasis on collaboration suggests she sees school improvement as a shared effort among teachers, families, community members and other stakeholders. - Her comments about women in leadership point to a belief that representation still matters in shaping who gets to influence education policy and practice. - Jenkins also sees mathematics education as an area where stronger support could improve student outcomes and encourage future leaders.

What's next: - Jenkins says she will continue pushing for community partnerships, targeted support for underserved students and more meaningful educational experiences. - She also plans to keep strengthening pathways in mathematics education and advocating for broader leadership opportunities for women. - At Innovation Academy SRQ, that likely means continued investment in student-centered programming, experiential learning and school-community engagement.

The bottom line: - Fayth Jenkins is positioning school leadership as a mix of operational discipline, equity work and community partnership, with student experience at the center.