Rebecca Flanagan-Jones officially took over as principal at Bovina Elementary School Tuesday.

Jones stepped into the new role after 15 years of service in the Vicksburg Warren School District (VWSD). Jones served as teacher at Vicksburg Intermediate School and Bowmar Elementary School and as lead teacher at Bowmar.

A Vicksburg native, Jones said she relishes her role in the VWSD educational system. She graduated from Vicksburg High School and received her bachelors degree in elementary education from the University of Mississippi. She earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Mississippi College.

She is married to Brandon Jones, a captain in the National Guard. Together, they have four children, Emma, Grayson, Brooklyn and Elise. Although Elise isn’t quite old enough to join a sports team, the Joneses spend much of their free time at the sports field with the older three. In the small amount of extra time she has, Jones said she enjoys exercising at the YMCA.

Jones said she is grateful to her predecessor, Dr. Mikki McCann, who recently retired.

“Dr. McCann left a well-oiled machine here (at Bovina),” she said.

Although Jones said leaving Bowmar is bittersweet, she welcomes her new role at Bovina.

“My plan is to continue the tradition of being a top-performing ‘A’ school and growing together in that capacity,” she said.

As her first day on the job concluded Tuesday, Jones expressed enthusiasm about the future.

“I’m excited to get to know a new staff, new kids, just all around excitement. I’m ready to get to work,” she said.