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��ɫ��Ƶ Detroit’s school team at Bethune Elementary-Middle School nominated Mrs. Linda Jackson for our School Partner Spotlight because she has embraced and mentored our AmeriCorps members with compassion and collaboration each school year. Mrs. Jackson is a 5th-grade teacher who loves ��ɫ��Ƶ and the help it brings to her classroom. We asked Mrs. Jackson some questions to help you get to know this awesome teacher.

1. How many years have you been in education?

I started my career in Law. I attended law school in Washington D.C. and worked for the Federal Government for ten years. My family had the chance to move overseas as EX-Pats to Saudi Arabia as my husband took a job there. It was an interesting place to live but I wanted to become more a part of the community. I took a position on the Board of Governors at the British International School.  I had never considered a job in teaching but as I became more involved in the school and curriculum, I realized I wanted to teach. 

I began teaching at Continental, The British International School. I also took a course that summer called Fast Train at George Mason University in Virginia. I taught for a few years there and then we moved to London right after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S.

Immediately the school my children, TASSIS, or The America School in Switzerland (England) asked me to take over for a teacher who had to leave. I stayed there for 3 years.

When the family returned home I was a stay-at-home mom while my children completed school.  When they left for college, I went back to school to attain my Master’s in Elementary Education. I interviewed with Mr. Jackson and Ms. Gibson at Bethune and I wanted to teach here. I have now been here for four years so I have taught ten years altogether.

2. What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?

I love when the light goes on in a student’s eyes, that they have worked to understand something and finally it happens.

3. How do you work with ��ɫ��Ƶ at your school?

I have had a city year volunteer each year at Bethune so 4 all together. I begin by asking them what they hope to get out of their time here. I also ask what are their strengths and often it is a weakness of mine and we work together well. I also ask about weaknesses and whether or not they are looking to improve in that area.

I like to have them not only do the pull-outs and work with small groups in math, but I often ask them to create a project for Black History Month and math or science. Depending on their interest, I let them lead the project after they design it or I will take over.

4. What’s a fun fact about you?

Some facts about me, I was born and raised in Detroit, but I have lived in Kalamazoo, New York City, Washington D.C., Aix-en-Provance, France, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Weybridge, England.

Thank you, Mrs. Jackson, for your dedication to students at Bethune Elementary-Middle School!