Jana Perry started a new era Wednesday when she became theMississippi School of the Arts’ first principal.

Perry, who has been the director of admissions and recruitingfor the arts school for the last two and a half years, said she’sexcited about the idea of helping at the helm for such an importantinstitution. She said it’s especially satisfying dealing withstudents who come from all over the state to find their niche atthe arts school located on the former Whitworth College campus.

“They find their first home in the arts world at MSA. It’s areally neat environment here,” she said. “Arts education is my loveand has been my background, and I’ve been teaching dance since Iwas 11. It’s second nature to be around students and ineducation.”‘

While she’s excited about the new position, Perry said she alsoenjoyed recruiting.

“I love the assessment that they go through to become a studenthere and talking to all sorts of organizations. I’ve loved being inthe job I’m in,” she said. “But there’s always been a need forinstructional leader, and I’m pretty excited about thatchance.”

The 32-year-old administrator has a bachelor’s degree in finearts and dance from the University of Southern Mississippi. She hasalso worked as a dance and theater teacher. Perry and her husbandAdam have a 10-month-old daughter Cameron.

Perry said the need for a principal has been looming for theschool, with Executive Director Dr. Vicki Lambert busy with thebusiness side of school operations. The Department of Educationrecently approved Perry for the principal position and made Oct. 1the first day of her tenure.

One thing Perry said she looks forward to is being a part of theadministration as the school adds curriculum for the art that shehas long loved: dance.

“We’re actually adding dance next year pending legislativeappropriation, and it’s exciting to build those classes and to helpbuild the department to match the school,” she said. “This is aneat time to be here.”

Perry said the school has grown during her time there, and shelooks forward to the next few years and seeing how the state isreacting to the idea of having a place for students who areartists.

She said the school is showing about a 10 percent growth rateper year. And with only 170 beds to fill, the application processis becoming more competitive.

“Every year we get more and more applications, but we aregrowing and it’s really exciting,” she said. “Anyone who hasapplied and met all the qualifications in the past few years hasbeen able to come. That may not be so in the near future.”

The direction she sees MSA going is another part of why Perryloves her new job.

“These kids really are pretty incredible kids and I wouldn’twant to work anywhere else,” she said. “I’ve fallen in love withthe vision and mission of the school, which is to give kids a homein the arts, where they might not find it somewhere else.”