Hey There Shepherd!
Once again getting back on track with ‘Getting To Know Shepherd People” Here is the 4th installment and the 2nd of the New Year, 2014. Getting to know people, communicating with them, and finding out what they are about is
a crucial key to successful teamwork and a successful school. I am going to continue do my best to post something about the special people involved at Shepherd Public schools the first Sunday of each month.
Today I want to present you with another unsung hero who tends to go unnoticed…
A crucial part of why Shepherd Public Schools is a success is because of the diversity it offers. One aspect of that is the Odyssey Program. There are some very special people out there who genuinely love teaching the students involved in its programs. One of them is Taleen Jackson.
Taleen has been teaching Science and Health for 16 years. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Biology & Health. She has taught everything from Biology, Life Science, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, Physics, and Health. Currently, on a daily basis, she teaches all the Science and Health classes for middle school and high school at Odyssey Middle/High School.
When asked about the best part of being at Shepherd, her eyes lit up with an immediate response… The students are truly amazing! They come back year after year and bring their significant other and children to meet us. We are more than just a school district, we are family. The staff strives to collaboratively do what’s best for students. From the secretaries to the aids, the bus drivers to the custodians, the principals to the superintendent and our wonderfully supportive School Board it is an awesome place to be. Without a doubt, I have the best job on the planet for me.
Mrs. Jackson has been married for 20 years to her husband Marshall. He is a Water Plant Operator for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Their daughter, Stephanie, is working on her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Museum Studies degree at Central Michigan University. She is currently fulfilling an internship at Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways.
The Jackson family has the sweetest black Pekingese, Jackson’s Evanescent Pixie, and a beautiful mixed rabbit boy named Portabella.
When not involved in teaching Taleen has and still is actively taking art classes from local artist Corby Blem since 2007. Taleen was quoted as, “Art is my therapy.”
Also the Jackson family loves to travel. They have been known to haul their camper, four wheelers, kayaks, and friends all over this beautiful state of state of Michigan. They spend enormous amounts of time visiting the Great Lakes where you might just find Taleen tearing up a Great Lake on her waverunner. They have also spent a lot of time in Key West, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana, and been on 13 Carnival Cruises to many different cruise ports. Taleen’s favorite is Costa Maya, Mexico, 7 miles north of Belize.
Taleen says her claim to fame is, “I live the width of my life, not just the length. I’m always saying, ‘Living the Width’. Life is short so I try and make the most of it.”
Taleen was asked about who inspires her. She responded with, “There are so many people who inspire me that I could write a book! Each has just as an important inspirational role in my life as the other. My Mom, my Dad, my Husband, my Daughter, my Aunt who has Down’s Syndrome...the list goes on." I forced her hand and made her choose one…
She chose her daughter.
“My daughter Stephanie inspires me. Steph believes she can use Art to educate, inspire, and even heal. In high school, Steph joined the Healing Arts program through Art Reach, Mt. Pleasant to teach and make art to/with the elderly living in nursing homes and the 55 and better housing communities in Isabella County. Not only were her artists impacted by her, but she by them. After the program was over, she ventured out on her own at 17 and continued making art with the elderly. She saw the impact on what was once a population of people with low self esteem and self worth (due to health issues and lack of mobility) to those who were smiling and thriving and inspired to draw or paint and share their art with her. Last February Shepherd called off school because of fog. It happened to be an art day at Dover Court Senior Apartments, so Stephanie invited me to help out in her class. I was never so inspired by someone in watching the interaction and relationships Steph built with this community. I learned a different degree of compassion from my daughter last February that I carry with me to my classroom every day. My cup runeth over.”
Shepherd we have some amazing people in this school system, associated with this school system, and in this community. Taleen is just one perfect example how sometimes some very special people might get over-looked.
I’m doing my best to see that stops.
Thank you Taleen for all the hard work and dedication you bring to the teaching profession. It is an honor to know you and to work with you.
All my best and then some...
Once again getting back on track with ‘Getting To Know Shepherd People” Here is the 4th installment and the 2nd of the New Year, 2014. Getting to know people, communicating with them, and finding out what they are about is
a crucial key to successful teamwork and a successful school. I am going to continue do my best to post something about the special people involved at Shepherd Public schools the first Sunday of each month.
Today I want to present you with another unsung hero who tends to go unnoticed…
A crucial part of why Shepherd Public Schools is a success is because of the diversity it offers. One aspect of that is the Odyssey Program. There are some very special people out there who genuinely love teaching the students involved in its programs. One of them is Taleen Jackson.
Taleen has been teaching Science and Health for 16 years. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Biology & Health. She has taught everything from Biology, Life Science, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, Physics, and Health. Currently, on a daily basis, she teaches all the Science and Health classes for middle school and high school at Odyssey Middle/High School.
When asked about the best part of being at Shepherd, her eyes lit up with an immediate response… The students are truly amazing! They come back year after year and bring their significant other and children to meet us. We are more than just a school district, we are family. The staff strives to collaboratively do what’s best for students. From the secretaries to the aids, the bus drivers to the custodians, the principals to the superintendent and our wonderfully supportive School Board it is an awesome place to be. Without a doubt, I have the best job on the planet for me.
Mrs. Jackson has been married for 20 years to her husband Marshall. He is a Water Plant Operator for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Their daughter, Stephanie, is working on her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Museum Studies degree at Central Michigan University. She is currently fulfilling an internship at Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways.
The Jackson family has the sweetest black Pekingese, Jackson’s Evanescent Pixie, and a beautiful mixed rabbit boy named Portabella.
When not involved in teaching Taleen has and still is actively taking art classes from local artist Corby Blem since 2007. Taleen was quoted as, “Art is my therapy.”
Also the Jackson family loves to travel. They have been known to haul their camper, four wheelers, kayaks, and friends all over this beautiful state of state of Michigan. They spend enormous amounts of time visiting the Great Lakes where you might just find Taleen tearing up a Great Lake on her waverunner. They have also spent a lot of time in Key West, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana, and been on 13 Carnival Cruises to many different cruise ports. Taleen’s favorite is Costa Maya, Mexico, 7 miles north of Belize.
Taleen says her claim to fame is, “I live the width of my life, not just the length. I’m always saying, ‘Living the Width’. Life is short so I try and make the most of it.”
Taleen was asked about who inspires her. She responded with, “There are so many people who inspire me that I could write a book! Each has just as an important inspirational role in my life as the other. My Mom, my Dad, my Husband, my Daughter, my Aunt who has Down’s Syndrome...the list goes on." I forced her hand and made her choose one…
She chose her daughter.
“My daughter Stephanie inspires me. Steph believes she can use Art to educate, inspire, and even heal. In high school, Steph joined the Healing Arts program through Art Reach, Mt. Pleasant to teach and make art to/with the elderly living in nursing homes and the 55 and better housing communities in Isabella County. Not only were her artists impacted by her, but she by them. After the program was over, she ventured out on her own at 17 and continued making art with the elderly. She saw the impact on what was once a population of people with low self esteem and self worth (due to health issues and lack of mobility) to those who were smiling and thriving and inspired to draw or paint and share their art with her. Last February Shepherd called off school because of fog. It happened to be an art day at Dover Court Senior Apartments, so Stephanie invited me to help out in her class. I was never so inspired by someone in watching the interaction and relationships Steph built with this community. I learned a different degree of compassion from my daughter last February that I carry with me to my classroom every day. My cup runeth over.”
Shepherd we have some amazing people in this school system, associated with this school system, and in this community. Taleen is just one perfect example how sometimes some very special people might get over-looked.
I’m doing my best to see that stops.
Thank you Taleen for all the hard work and dedication you bring to the teaching profession. It is an honor to know you and to work with you.
All my best and then some...