Moving from Michigan to Alabama wasn’t necessarily part of the plans for 21-year-old Jabari Jackson. However, in 2013 that is exactly what happened.
“While I was in college, my father retired as a unionized plumber. Once he retired, he said he wanted to go back home. So, he gave me a choice — stay in Michigan and figure it out or move with him to Mobile, and he could provide me a place to live until I figured it out,” shared Jabari. “I had told myself that I would move out of Alabama the second I graduated college because it did not feel like home. However, God saw a different plan for me.”
Jabari graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in Mathematics and Statistics and a minor in Spanish. He has been teaching for seven years now. At Ben Cato Rain High School, he teaches Algebra 1 and 2, and he is their percussion instructor. He is also an adjunct professor at Bishop State for Math098.
“Honestly, teaching was never in my intended plan. However, after running away from education for so long, God finally said it was time for me to answer my calling,” Jabari shared. “I was always in the teaching role because of my love for playing drums, and with my mother being an educator for years, becoming a teacher was going to happen.”
Jabari enjoys teaching students in high school and beyond because they are more relatable. The relationship he is able to build with these students allows him to not only teach math but also life skills.
“I would say my teaching style is extremely laid back. I personally call myself a “low-key” math nerd,” Jabari shared. “I am smart enough to understand where different mathematical ideas and concepts come from, and I do my best to make hard concepts seem easy. I have been told that I am one of the more approachable teachers that my students have.”
Staying motivated as a teacher is a lot more difficult than Jabari originally thought. Having a life outside of teaching helps to keep him balanced and stay motivated each school year.
“I think about what both my father and a colleague told me; do not bring yesterday into today,” reflected Jabari. “At first, I was not sure what that meant; however, as I began to teach more, I learned that it simply means, whatever happened yesterday — good or bad — do not allow it to mess up tomorrow.”
Jabari Jackson met his wife Pearl through work, and she was a huge reason why he stayed in Alabama. They have been married for five years and have two boys and a puppy. They love being able to raise their boys near family. When he isn’t teaching, Jabari enjoys playing drums, working out, traveling, and eating good food.
