By Hope Sandusky/ editor-in-chief
NW humanities and dance associate professor Kim Jackson teaches more than just what her title says.
Dakota Greene/The Collegian
“I teach English, drama, creative writing,” she said. “I have a love for being able to teach as many things as possible.”
Teaching since 2002, Jackson found her passion for it at a young age in elementary school.
“You have that one teacher that opens your eyes,” she said. “My teacher in fifth grade wasn’t like any other teachers. She helped me and tutored me with reading. I had another teacher that helped me overcome stuttering by teaching me to dance. Those are the kind of people I wanted to be.”
Jackson sees teaching as more than a job. She sees it as an opportunity for helping others, and winning the Chancellor’s Award for NW Campus validates this for her.
“I see teaching as an artistic expression,” she said. “It’s more than just having credentials. I see it as my art form.”
Jackson says her favorite thing about teaching is the connection she builds with students.
“I like to take things they haven’t maybe thought about and present it to them,” she said. “I want them to see old things in a new way, to think outside of their comfort zone. That, for me, is satisfying enough.”
NW humanities dean Lisa Benedetti says that Jackson’s ability to go the extra mile is what makes her such an outstanding educator.
“She prepares [students] to be successful, both inside the classroom and out in life,” she said. “She is definitely a Renaissance teacher. She takes theoretical concepts and brings it down to the student’s level in a way that they can understand. She isn’t afraid to take on new challenges. She is always looking for new opportunities to teach students in different environments and is willing to be the pilot of new things that we may try.”
Benedetti says it’s exciting to see Jackson share her gift of teaching with others.
“My favorite thing about her is her sparkle,” she said. “She always comes prepared to bring her energy and enthusiasm to the table with whatever task she might be working on. If you have the chance to be in a room with her, her passion and excitement really shines through.”
Jackson’s student assistant Caroline Reyes says these qualities are what make Jackson so unique as a teacher.
“She’s really good at getting people to talk and to express their opinions,” she said. “She does it in a way that says your experience is valid and makes you feel secure. If you ever need someone to talk to, she’s there for you.”
Reyes has known Jackson for three years, starting out as a student initially.
“I used to go and just sit in her office and talk to her all day,” she said. “At one point, she felt bad about me just sitting there all the time, so she got me a job.”
Reyes says her favorite thing about Jackson is her ability to make people re-examine things.
“She’s so good at making people question and critically think about their world,” she said. “She’ll help you look at things in a new way, and you’ll start to rethink what you usually had thought. You become more aware of yourself and the world, and it changesa lot of people.”
Reyes has taken what she has learned from Jackson and applied it in places throughout her life.
“She takes something and says ‘Look at it this way,’” she said. “It makes life so much more interesting.”
