Meet Jackie

• Meet Jackie.

I grew up in Sunray, Texas as a student-athlete and one of six, really eight, kids in a blended family. I attended college at Tarleton State University and graduated with a BS Business Administration with a minor in Speech Communications with my Texas teaching certificate in grades 6-12 for both business and speech. While teaching and coaching, I obtained my MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce and later on went for my MS Human Resource Management from TAMU-Central Texas. I am married to Chris, an aircraft electrician for Boeing, and we have 3 beautiful and smart children, ages 15, 3, and 2.

• When did you know you wanted to be an educator?

I think I decided it my sophomore year in high school because I love my interpersonal communications class and teacher. And, I was pretty much teaching BCIS to myself and the teacher.

• How many years were you in education?

I was a classroom teacher for 7 years and worked for a college and career readiness federal education grant, GEAR UP for two years. I also taught at Central Texas College for 4 years as an adjunct business teacher.

• What does your vision board include? 

What’s your favorite thing about Journey Through Education?

I think the guide we created can be used at anytime in anyone’s career. Too often we get stagnant and forget who we are as a person and an educator. The guide was fun to write and has been fun to share with other educators.

How do you define success?

“If you’re not first, you’re last.” -Ricky Bobby

Just kidding. Success is when I feel accomplished and proud of something. Sometimes I’m successful because I learned a lesson, a new task or something pretty minor.

I want Journey Through Education to be successful in the terms of it being a “go to” guide for educators all over the country and in Canada.

What is your WHY, AKA Mission Statement?

What have been your biggest adventures…in your career and personally?

My life since getting married has been one big adventure. We have moved 7 times in 5 years and added two kids to the mix. I absolutely loved living in Okinawa, Japan. Everyday we could find an adventure and new things in our own neighborhood. I would live there forever if I could.

In my career, I would say the whole journey. I started out at a tiny school district and learned so much. Then I moved to a larger district and learned much more there. I realized I was done in the classroom but not in education and started the grant position. My heart is with college and career readiness for students and their parents. After I started moving all over the world with my husband, I started Your Virtual HQ to keep my professional self alive. Then, it took the back burner with JTE was born. I’m a lifelong learner and learning to be an entrepreneur.

Do you have any upcoming travel plans?

I will travel to DC and Orlando in July. DC is business with my part-time job training military-affiliated families with the Military Child Education coalition Parent to Parent Panhandle, Florida team. Orlando is for fun with my girls, and possibly my husband, to meet my inlaws while they’re at a conference.

Of course, we will adventure around the Panhandle, Florida and visit Texas this summer too. Luckily my girls aren’t bad car trip kiddos.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Running and reading are probably my top two these days. I love running races and challenging myself, but also running just to enjoy the great outdoors. I enjoy reading non-fiction books, especially ones during the civil rights movement and great memoirs. Taking suggestions now!

I also received golf clubs for my birthday so I could hang out with my husband more. My goal is to play a round and not just go to the driving range.

One piece of advice or quote you’d like to give our audience?