JimmieJ's class introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog for MLS 590 Public Discourse at North Central College!  My name is Jimmie Jacobs and I am a second year graduate student in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program with a focus on culture and society. 

Graduating in 2005 from Illinois State University with a degree in Social Science Education, I have taught high school social studies at Normal Community High School (1 year), Urbana High School (1 year), and currently Waubonsie Valley High School (in my 10th year).  Over the course of my career I have taught American History, World History, World Geography, AP Human Geography, Government, Sociology, and Credit Recovery.

This particular master’s program interested me because it was not a typical degree program for teachers.  I was never a fan of the cohort programs that sped you through classes so you could advance on the pay scale because people seemed to not utilize the information in their actual classrooms.  Administrative programs did not appeal to me because I did not see myself going down that path in my career.  So, I waited to go back to school until I found the right fit.  I am glad I did because I have been able to take knowledge, information, and instructional strategies from my MALS courses back to my classroom on a regular basis.  The content of the program not only helps my classroom instruction, but gives me strong footing for my aspirations of being a high school dean.

I have always been interested in the world round me and this program has really helped me delve further into this world.  I am very interested in people and all of our unique differences.  Of primary concern to me is race and how people treat those that are different from themselves on a racial level.  This program also helps me become a better leader, which is another area of interest for me.  With greater knowledge of people and how they are seen in the world, I hope to be a better leader in life.

Outside of these interests, I have been member of the Illinois Air National Guard for the past 15 years, enjoy the sport of triathlon, and travel whenever the time permits.

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