Principal's Message

Kacy Carter graduated from the University of Mount Union with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Adolescent to Young Adult Education.  Mr. Carter obtained his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati in 2012, his Superintendents license from Ashland University in 2022, and his Masters of Business Administration from Walsh University in 2025. Mr. Carter has 21 years of experience teaching and working with students in grades 6-12.  He taught at East Canton High School for three years before coming to Jackson.

In 2007, Mr. Carter began teaching Social Studies at Jackson Memorial Middle School, a post he held for five years.  He then went on to coordinate the Global Studies programming at Jackson High School while teaching History. In 2017, Mr. Carter returned to JMMS as building principal.

Mr. Carter is a member of the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.  He currently serves on the OASSA Middle-Level Committee.  He served on the OASSA's Legislative Committee in 2016-2018 and the OASSA School Safety Committee in 2020-2021.

Mr. Carter is also serving on the Ohio Educator Standards Board for the State Board of Education for the 2025-2026 school year. The Educator Standards Board collaboratively promotes educator quality, professionalism, and public accountability on behalf of the students and citizens of Ohio.  

He is married to Becky, and they are the proud parents of Annie, Ella, Kaitlin, and John.

Mrs. Brigitte Fontes graduated from Grove City College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She earned her Masters degree in School Leadership with Principal Licensure in 2022. 

Mrs. Fontes taught Kindergarten at Sauder Elementary and fourth grade at Strausser Elementary. She coached middle school Cross Country at Jackson Memorial Middle School. 

Mrs. Fontes served as Elementary Dean of Students for three years starting in 2022. She is excited to serve as Assistant Principal at JMMS for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Mrs. Fontes is married to Chris and is the step-mom of three children.

Mr. Ben McGugin earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Kent State University in 2010, followed by a Master’s degree in Education—Curriculum and Instruction with Integrated Social Studies Licensure from the University of Akron in 2012. In 2021, he completed his school administration certification and licensure through Indiana Wesleyan University.

Mr. McGugin began his teaching career in 2012 at the Life Skills Center of North Akron as a Social Studies teacher. From 2013 to 2017, he taught social studies and coached lacrosse at Page High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2017, he returned to his alma mater, Jackson High School, where he spent eight years teaching American Government, AP Economics, and Personal Finance. During this time, he also served as the head coach of the Speech and Debate team.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. McGugin served as the building testing coordinator at Jackson High School from 2019 to 2025. He began his administrative career in 2025 as Assistant Principal at Jackson Memorial Middle School.

Mr. McGugin is an active member of the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators. He resides in Jackson Township with his wife, Brittany, and their two children, Kennedy and Jack.