Superintendent

Dreaming Big

"Empowering personal potential' takes vision, creativity, and drive—qualities that have defined Superintendent Jason Manuel’s leadership of Germantown Municipal Schools.

Hometown Roots

Jason Manuel, Superintendent of Germantown Municipal School District, is a proud product of the Germantown school system. With 31 years of educational experience in this community, he has served as a student, teacher, assistant principal, principal, and now district leader.

Mr. Manuel’s educational journey began at Farmington Elementary, where he attended through eighth grade before graduating from Germantown High School in 1989. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1994, a Master’s in Education in 1995, and an Education Specialist degree from Union University in 2009.

From 1995 to 2008, Mr. Manuel taught science at Houston High School, where he shared his passion for subjects such as horticulture, environmental science, ecology, biology, and journalism. He also contributed to the school’s athletics programs as an assistant coach for both boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. In 2008, he transitioned into leadership, serving as assistant principal at Houston High School before becoming the principal of Houston Middle School in 2011.

Building a World-Class School District

In 2014, Mr. Manuel reached a pivotal milestone in his career when he was appointed the first and only Superintendent of GMSD. Building a district from the foundation up, Mr. Manuel has ushered GMSD through numerous milestones, including consistently earning the highest district ACT scores in Tennessee along with state and national accomplishments in both the arts and athletics. His focus on academic excellence and innovation has helped maintain Germantown’s reputation for producing high-achieving students. Mr. Manuel has also overseen more than $100 million in capital improvements, leading to the renovation and expansion of several schools. Projects such as Riverdale School, Houston Middle School, and Forest Hill Elementary have received national recognition for their exceptional design and functionality. Mr. Manuel and his team are often lauded for thinking 'outside of the box'.

Awards

An early advocate for community engagement, Mr. Manuel was recognized by the National School Public Relations Association’s Superintendents to Watch award in 2016. By 2023, he had earned NSPRA's prestigious Communication Technology Award for Superintendents, which honors only one superintendent per year who utilizes innovative communication tools and practices. Under his leadership, GMSD has introduced initiatives such as a mobile app, digital newsletters, and a two-way messaging platform to strengthen community engagement and communication. Mr. Manuel has also been honored with the TSSAA A.F. Bridges Award for his integrity and ethical leadership. In 2020, the Tennessee Department of Education named him Regional Superintendent of the Year.

Leadership

For the past eight years, Mr. Manuel has served on the Executive Committee of the Superintendents Study Council, an organization that collaborates closely with the Tennessee Department of Education to evaluate instructional programs and recommend enhancements. Additionally, Mr. Manuel has concurrently served as Chairman of the Southwest Core within the Tennessee Department of Education. The Southwest Core, part of the state’s Centers of Regional Excellence (CORE), provides tailored support to school districts across Tennessee. As chair, he collaborates with fellow superintendents to guide strategic planning and monitor the state’s educational priorities.

His leadership has become a cornerstone of the Germantown Municipal School District’s culture. His vision continues to shape the future of our schools as we empower personal excellence for all of our students and staff.

The Superintendent's Weekly Video Message

Jo Ellen Druelinger

Superintendent and Board Secretary

Main point of contact for scheduling appointments with the Superintendent.
Coordinates community meetings and events.
Manages bookings for the Superintendent's speaking engagements.
Serves as the Board of Education’s Secretary, supporting administrative functions and documentation.

901-752-7879

Email Jo Ellen Druelinger

Jo Ellen Druelinger serves as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board Secretary for Germantown Municipal School District. With a rich background in organizational communications, strategic planning, and public relations, Jo Ellen brings a diverse skill set and a strong commitment to the district's success.

Before joining GMSD, Jo Ellen held leadership positions at a large local church and Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division, where she excelled in connecting with diverse stakeholders, overseeing large-scale projects, and implementing effective communication strategies. Her experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors has equipped her with the expertise to manage complex initiatives and maintain high standards of excellence.

Primary point of contact for scheduling appointments with the Superintendent
Coordination of community meetings and special events
Management of Superintendent’s speaking engagements and public appearances
Serving as the Board Secretary, overseeing administrative functions and documentation for the Board of Education

Email ms. druelinger

901-752-7879

The Superintendent's Report

Each month, the Superintendent updates the public on key progress on the District's Strategic Plan 2030. The Superintendent's Report is delivered at the beginning of each Germantown Board of Education Business Meeting. The meetings are open to the public and are both live-streamed and recorded. Each report last approximately ten minutes and provides an insightful look at the work of our students, staff, and teachers. Below, you will find reports that detailed progress for the Strategic Plan 2025, and in the coming meetings, the focus will shift to our new Strategic Plan 2030.

Learn more about Strategic Plan 2030

Opportunities

Take a deep dive into all of the unique opportunities that students at GMSD have. From clubs and community service to athletics and fine arts, our students have the chance to be a part of something great at all of our GMSD schools. Our programs begin at the elementary level and carry students all the way through grade 12, allowing students time to explore each and every interest.
11.18.25 Opportunities

Master Facilities Planning

This report reviews the Strategic Master Facilities Plan and how GMSD is "Building with Purpose." Detailing enrollment forecasts, capacity studies, maintenance needs, capital project timelines, and so much more, this report is a fantastic guide designed to give the community a clear outline of both short-team and long-term needs.

10.28.25 Master Facilities Planning

Alumni

In this Superintendents Report, we are taking a look at new directives to help further our alumni outreach and build a strong community for our current students to reach out to those who were HHS students before them. We are aiming to create strong partnerships and engagement with our alumni community both locally and nationally.

9.30.25 Alumni

Summer Facility Improvements

In the first report for the 25-26 school year, we are taking a look at the projects that were worked on over the summer. It was a busy summer across GMSD, including ceiling tile replacements, new office spaces, a TV studio upgrade, and a track that will better serve all of our schools.

8.26.25 Summer Facility Improvements