Brockton Special Needs Educator Nominated For LifeChanger Award

BROCKTON, MA — Special Education Chair Cathy Jackson was one of 12 Massachusetts educators nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year Award.

The award recognizes an educator's ability to make life-changing differences for the students in their community. Someone in the community appreciated Jackson's efforts a great deal, as it was a city resident rather than a district faculty member who nominated her. Jackson was nominated by Michael Walker.

Walker in his nomination of Jackson said:

"For the first time in eight years, I feel like my child and I were heard." How heartening to hear a grandmother in the community say those words after a meeting with Mrs. Jackson. That grandmother went on to state that Mrs. Jackson listened and actively listened - the words were palpable. A grandmother felt "heard" for the first time in eight years.

Consistent with the report of that grandmother, Mrs. Jackson actively listens. She genuinely cares. Mrs. Jackson sets out to discover the truth about the multi-cultural urban school district from those who participate in it. She hears the voices of teachers and minority parents, immigrant families, Latino educators, and the children themselves. She is a difference maker!

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