Home News MILITARY VETERAN TRANSITIONS TO TEACHING AND WINS ROOKIE TEACHER OF THE BLOCK AWARD

MILITARY VETERAN TRANSITIONS TO TEACHING AND WINS ROOKIE TEACHER OF THE BLOCK AWARD

12/9/2020

The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t enough to deter Brandon Jackson from answering the call to teach. Education is a second career for Jackson, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Longleaf Middle School. Jackson joined the Richland Two staff after running a successful business, serving 20 years in the United States Army and receiving a Purple Heart. Jackson is the November 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Block (RTOB). The award is sponsored by H&R Block, a dedicated partner of the district.

According to Longleaf Principal Teresa Boyd, relationships are important to Jackson and his students adore him. Boyd says Jackson frequently meets with students virtually after school, and stays online as long as needed to help them succeed.

“Mr. Jackson’s positive attitude and energy engages his students. He tells them all that they are destined for greatness and they believe him. After spending many hours after school providing academic assistance to one of his 8th grade students, he decided to grade all of the work and update the student’s grade at the end of their session from an F to a B. The session ended with both of them in tears. The student shared that was their first time making a B grade,” said Boyd.

Jackson says teaching is important because, “I have the opportunity to work with and learn from the best teachers and administrators in the world. Most of all I get a daily opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of a child, to me there is no greater honor.”

RTOB winners receive a plaque to hang outside their door, a nameplate for the door, discounted tax preparation from H&R Block, a unique trophy designed by the 3D printing class at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2), and a bag of Richland Two goodies from Human Resources. Each month a RTOB is chosen and then an overall winner, Rookie Teacher of the Year, is selected.