Celebrating Teachers of the Year

Across Jeff Jacobs’ seven years as an educator, his passion for developing scholars through his love and interest in writing and literature, have propelled his students’ success through his work as an English Language Arts and Reading teacher at Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy (KJTMA). Having been a part of the DeSoto ISD family for four years, Jacobs’ time at KJTMA has been marked by a commitment to inspiring students to become confident and independent readers.

What Jacobs loves most about teaching is witnessing the transformation in his students’ attitudes toward reading. At the start of the year, he sees a mix of students who either love or dislike reading, but by the end of the year, most of his students are excited to read both independently and out loud in class.

Jacobs’ initial inspiration to teach came from his mother, a teacher herself, whom he helped in the classroom during high school. Today, he is motivated by the goal of improving his teaching each year, always striving to make his classroom experience better than the last. He’s now setting new professional goals, including becoming TIA certified and earning T-TESS Distinguished teacher status.

One of Jacobs’ favorite moments as a teacher came during this year’s STAAR testing period. As the Campus Technology Coordinator, he was responsible for distributing and collecting the technology for the testing process. After the completion of the Reading STAAR, and recalled the relief he felt when he was able to roll the computers back into their original places, ensuring everything was returned better than he found it—helping foster team unity.

In his classroom, Jacobs takes an intentional approach to meet students where they are. Beyond traditional teaching methods, Jacobs connects with his students through TikTok, where he shares creative, engaging lessons. For example, he uses humorous skits to teach grammar rules like “drop the y,” and even hosts TikTok LIVE sessions to guide students through homework lessons. This approach allows students to engage in a more relaxed, comfortable environment, building stronger connections with their teacher.

Recognized by his peers for his instructional excellence, Jacobs is honored by the recognition, though he is quick to share that he couldn’t have achieved this without his students. He uses his Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy Teacher of the Year award to fuel both himself and his students, setting high expectations and reminding them that they share in the success.

Jeff Jacobs is a dedicated educator who continues to inspire his students to reach their full potential through innovation, dedication, and a genuine passion for teaching.