|
Michael Jackson, Lee Middle School Choral Director Receives CMSD First STARCatcher Award - December 18, 2008 |
|
Published in the Commercial Dispatch Wednesday, December 19, 2007 By Garthia Elena Burnett
“Creative.” “Innovative.” Just a few of the words used to describe the recipient of Columbus Municipal School District's first Star Catcher Award.
The award was created by Phillips as another way to recognize the district's outstanding teachers.
Michael Jackson, choral director and multimedia instructor at Lee Middle School Tuesday was recognized for going “above and beyond” the call of duty and for “touching the lives of students.” “He is a team member who makes a difference and encourages all his co-workers to be more than they thought they could be,” said Cindy Wamble, principal of LMS, who nominated Jackson for the award.
“Mr. Jackson just goes above and beyond whatever we ask him to do. He has taken a choir that wasn't doing anything, and he's taken them to a national competition,” added Wamble. “He devotes so much time after school, and he doesn't get paid for that. He just does it because he loves the kids.” “I am especially honored to receive the district's first Star Catcher award,” said Jackson. Everyone asks ‘How does it feel?' For me, I feel the way I do every day - happy and excited to know that I am impacting the lives of the students just as some of the very teachers who still teach in this district impacted my life when I was a student of CMSD. “Being a product of the great education that the CMSD has to offer, I am elated and privileged to be able to teach in the very building and sit in the very classroom where I received my eighth-grade education when S.D. Lee became Lee Middle School back 11 years ago,” he continued. I strive daily to show my students, by example and modeling, that they have the ability to become whatever they want to become and that the teachers are here to provide them with the resources they need to obtain those goals.” For Jackson, it's even more important to set an example for his students “because of the missing presence of more young, black, male educators in the classroom.” “They really need to see that image and realize that they too are destined for greatness and the value and pride CMSD takes in education will provide them with that opportunity to succeed.” Jackson is looking forward to seeing a new middle school and new programming initiatives with magnet schools take shape at CMSD. “And I am just honored to be able to help that vision become a reality,” he said. |
|
Bobby Harper, of Cadence Back & Dr. Del Philips, CMSD Superintendent presents Jackson with the first ever STARCatcher Award. |
|
Mrs. Cindy Wamble & Jackson takes a photo after he was presented with the first ever STARCatcher Award. |
