ELON, N.C. – Finding a balance between succeeding in competition and in the classroom is a necessity for all student-athletes. For Piper Jons, success in the classroom is twofold. 

An early education major, Jons has spent time student-teaching in Alamance County over the course of her time at Elon, where she is also a sprinter and captain for the track & field team. 

"It's been very meaningful to be in a classroom where I know I'm leaving a mark on the kids," Jons said. 

Although her time as an Elon student comes to an end this spring, Jons' time in the classroom is just beginning, as she will pursue a career in teaching after completing her education.  
 
From the field to the track
Jons discovered she was great working with kids growing up in a big family. She spent time looking after her younger brother and cousins, as well as other younger kids in her neighborhood back home in Maryland. 

"I liked to be that little leader and make sure everybody's ducks were in a row," Jons said. "I liked to have that responsibility."

Jons took a childhood development class in high school and had the opportunity to work with a group of three and four-year-olds each day in class for daycare sessions. Among the responsibilities for Jons and her classmates included devising lesson plans, providing snacks and taking them outside for recess.

While Jons always liked working with kids, it wasn't until this class where it clicked this was something she could pursue after high school. 

"It was so fun for me and I felt really comfortable in that environment being around the kids. I just felt so at home," Jons said. "I always looked forward to coming back and seeing the kids."

In addition to her blossoming passion for education, Jons made another important discovery in high school. Originally a soccer player, Jons joined the track team during her sophomore year of high school to stay in shape for soccer season. With her twin sister making the varsity soccer team at her school, Jons was determined to make it herself and saw track as a way to help her do it.

"I didn't really know what I was getting myself into," Jons said.

Jons performed well in the 100-meter dash at her tryout. In fact, she did so well that the coach said she wouldn't need to return to the next day of tryouts – she had a spot on the team. Just like that, Jons had another sport to take seriously. 

Entering her junior year of high school, Jons' coach had her competing in longer sprint events, something she did not enjoy at first. However, by his request, she trusted him. Jons quickly became a force to be reckoned with, helping her team win the state championships in both her junior and senior seasons. 

As she became a star on the track, Jons' coach told her she could make it as a Division I runner if she committed solely to the sport. Early in her senior year, she did just that, giving up club soccer to focus on running. 

"I loved soccer, but I found more passion from track than I did soccer," Jons said. 

Jons began emailing Division I track & field coaches in hopes of finding a home. One of the coaches she contacted was Elon's Mark Elliston.

Elliston studied Jons' high school times and results and believed she could develop into a key contributor for the Phoenix. After Jons reached out to Elon, she heard back and was ecstatic to find out Elliston was interested in having her join the team. 

"I was like, 'Oh my god, mom, no way, the coach at Elon got back to me,'" Jons said. "Ever since I was in contact with him, I was like, 'I really want to go to Elon and be in that area.' So after that, it was just kind of a done deal."

Jons never wavered on her decision to commit to Elon. Once she arrived as a freshman, Elliston knew early on she had a chance to be special. 

"I could see right away she was someone who had the ability and the talent to really get to some higher levels of competition," Elliston said. "She was willing and able to go through the rigorous training sessions with lifting and she really started to rise above."

In her first season with the Phoenix, Jons played an important role in Elon's CAA outdoor championship victory. She placed runner-up to earn All-CAA honors in both the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay, securing crucial points in Elon's first CAA title since 2016. 

A home in the classroom
Jons acclimated herself to the track & field team quickly. Back in the classroom, Jons declared early education as her major before the end of her freshman year. Although the major is currently being phased out, Jons has been able to complete the major along with a handful of other students.

Jons completed the first student-teaching experience as part of her major during her sophomore year at The Little School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The school fosters an advocacy-based learning environment and teaches kids to speak up for themselves and build strong peer relationships. 

"It was inspiring to see because it wasn't super traditional," Jons said. "[The kids] spent a lot of time outside and using different tools from the real world instead of toys. That was very eye-opening to me because I didn't necessarily see that in school settings when I was growing up."
 
During her time at The Little School, Jons worked primarily with two and three-year-olds and learned about a different style of teaching and learning than she had ever previously been exposed to. The experience helped confirm for Jons that she enjoyed working with kids in this age range. 

"They were so good at voicing their needs and wants," Jons said. "It was very interesting to see and it was something that I really wanted to learn more about."

As she continued to find her calling in the classroom, Jons was also starring on the track. She racked up three All-CAA honors at the 2022 CAA outdoor championship, which included a conference title in the 4x400-meter relay. Elon won its second consecutive outdoor conference championship as a team. 

Being a full-time athlete while balancing student-teaching commitments was a new obstacle for Jons to juggle as a sophomore. With much of her time during the day being spent in the classroom, Jons had to prioritize her time away from student-teaching to continue her ascent on the track. 

For Jons, the support she received from her professors, mentors, teammates and coaches made this balancing act go as smoothly as she could have hoped for. 

"Throughout my time at different placements, my team has been very supportive," Jons said. "I come to practice after teaching all day and get to tell my teammates about what happened that day. They love to hear my stories."

Elliston has always worked to accommodate the academic interests and needs of his athletes. Even though Jons had to invest a lot of her time in student-teaching, he said she never let it take away from her role on the team.

"It takes a huge amount of discipline," Elliston said. "She never did wait until the last second to try to do stuff right. She knew there were responsibilities at practice and for the team as well. She would budget her time and not waste it." 

"She managed to do all she needed to do, which again was a great example for everyone to know that wow, Piper's doing all that, and she still makes sure she's here to do her part for the team in such a tremendous way," Elliston added. 

During her junior year, Jons found a new home in her second student-teaching placement alongside Kim Griffin at Alexander Wilson Elementary School in Graham. Jons assisted Griffin teaching her preschool class.

Jons loved the experience with Griffin's class so much, she returned to student-teach again this fall. 

"I was really pumped about coming back this year," Jons said. "I formed really great relationships with the kids. They have a special place in my heart."
 
Throughout her time with Griffin's class, Jons had the opportunity to take on more and more responsibilities, as she led the class and took charge in lesson planning for six weeks.

Griffin said she appreciated Jons' observant and friendly personality and was impressed by her ability to connect with the students. 

"She would always try to find something to connect with the kids if she knew they really liked something," Griffin said. "It was really nice to be able to see that and have that extra support and help."

"She came in with a lot of knowledge, but I saw her feel more comfortable taking the lead giving good suggestions. She started to make it more of her own," Griffin added. "She started to become more confident in that, but respectful at the same time knowing that we shared the classroom."

Jons' support for Griffin's students was reciprocated by the class with support for her competitions on the track. As the students began to learn that Jons was a sprinter, Griffin would show videos of her races in the class, and Jons brought her experiences from the track into the classroom to teach the students life lessons. 

"They're all about her races," Griffin said. "Part of her talking about running, we would talk about how you don't always win. Sometimes you don't, but you try your best. That was one really big thing that she tried to help instill in them too, that you just have to keep doing your best and keep practicing and trying."

In her first placement with Griffin's class, Jons helped the Phoenix to a third straight outdoor CAA team championship and the conference's first ever indoor title. She was All-CAA in both the indoor and outdoor 4x100-meter relay and was part of the outdoor 4x100-meter relay team that won the conference title and broke the conference record. 

Elon will host a pair of events this spring, including the CAA outdoor championship. Griffin and her students are excited to finally have a chance to come and support Jons in-person at the events in her last season with the program. 

"They're all excited," Griffin said. "They're like, 'Ms. Jons is going do her best and win!'" 
Ms. Jons' classroom
In December, Jons had to say goodbye to Mrs. Griffin's class as her placement came to an end, although she is still a frequent visitor and is excited to have some of the students coming to support her at Elon's home events. 

"It was very rewarding, very fulfilling," Jons said. "It was really sad to leave."

This May, Jons will say another difficult goodbye. This time, it will be to Elon and the track & field program. 

Jons will try to help the Phoenix win a fourth straight CAA outdoor team championship this spring but it will also mark the final time she takes the starter's line in her Elon career. An emotional runner, Elliston said she always channels the feelings in a positive way on the track. 

"Just before her races, more times than not, she starts to tear up with the nerves of wanting to do well and all of that energy just comes out emotionally," Elliston said. "I've gotten to where I say to her and to the team that I know Piper's going to do great when I see her crying and I get a little worried if I don't see her cry."

A captain this season, Jons has ingrained herself on the program and Elliston, who is excited to see her thrive not only in her final year with the team but also beyond her time at Elon. 

"I've been doing this for close to 40 years and she's right up there in the top five of the most amazing people and student-athletes that I've ever had the good pleasure of coaching," Elliston said. "She's very tenderhearted and just an amazing, caring person. She puts herself way down the list to make sure she's doing what she needs to do for others and wants to be helpful and caring to others to help them succeed as well."
 
After she graduates from Elon, Jons plans on furthering her education before becoming a full-time teacher. While she is grateful for her student-teaching experiences and the mentorship she has received, she is eager to have a classroom she can call her own.

"I have worked so hard during my time here to prepare for it, I will feel so accomplished," Jons said. "Getting into the field as early as my sophomore year and experiencing all that comes with teaching has only confirmed my passion for it, along with various jobs I've had outside of Elon."

In addition to Griffin and the staff at The Little School, Jons credited Portia Wade from Elon's School of Education for helping mentor her and help her balance her track career with her pursuit of education. 

After working with her for the last two years, Griffin knows Jons is going to make a great teacher and is thrilled to have her as an up-and-coming peer. 

"It's going to be an awesome classroom she's going to have one day, I'm very excited," Griffin said. "It was nice to be able to connect with her and build a friendship. You don't always keep in touch and have that kind of bond, so it's been nice that we've been able to connect and go have dinner sometimes and text little funny things or little tips and stuff to each other."

"I'm super proud of her for being able to balance both the athletics and academics side," Griffin added.  

Jons knows teaching bears important responsibilities. A nurturing person at heart, Jons is ready to help make an impact on kids that will help them be not only successful students but also well-rounded people.

"Teaching lets me build confidence in my students and motivate them to learn and grow," Jons said. "I get to teach them to be independent and responsible. The biggest thing for me is just providing them with a caring and supportive space. Kid's won't grow without that." 

"I was lucky enough to experience some amazing teachers growing up and I just want to do the same for the next generation," Jons added.

As Jons prepares to embark on the next steps of her teaching career, it is evident her passion and enthusiasm for helping kids is special. 

"I will never get tired of hearing, 'Ms. Jons!' when the kids walk in each morning," Jons said. "It's extremely fulfilling. I can't wait."
 

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'Rising Phoenix' is a new student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on Twitter (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Jacob Kisamore at jkisamore@elon.edu.

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