TEACHER: Jackie Presley    

SCHOOL: Perdido School

SUBJECTS TAUGHT: Second grade

SOMETHING UNUSUAL ABOUT YOURSELF: If you walk into Jackie Presley’s classroom, look to the left, above her cabinets and you’ll see an Easy Bake Oven from 1978, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and other retro toys and books from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Jackie Presley is teaching second grade for the first time this year at Perdido School. In previous years, Presley taught third and fourth grades. She has worked at Perdido for nine years and she isn’t shy about the pride she has for her school.

“I love it; the small school, it’s community oriented,” Presley says. “I love the staff, principal and assistant principal, the working relationships and the great parent support.”

Presley enjoys teaching because she enjoys seeing her students learn

“Whenever you give students a concept and they master that concept or think of new ideas, it’s amazing,” she says. “I honestly believe teaching is a calling.”

Just because she leaves her classroom and school for the day, doesn’t mean Presley is finished with her job. She admits when she’s shopping at Target or Wal-Mart, her wheels are always turning and she’s thinking of different ways to use items and crafts for teaching.

In Presley’s class, the students aren’t the only ones who are learning something new.

“I believe I learn just as much from my students as they do from me,” she says. “I’m proud to be a teacher, knowing I am making a difference in students’ lives, inside and out.”

Presley decided to teach about 12 years ago at Stapleton School when she was an aide and custodian.

“I just fell in love with the atmosphere,” she says. “I went back to school at the University of South Alabama and after graduating, got a job at Perdido School. I’m very blessed.”

When she isn’t teaching, Presley spends time with her husband, Phillip, who just retired from the Air Force Reserves weeks ago. She also has three daughters, Bethany, Ashley and Natalee.

“My life revolves around my family,” Presley says. “Wherever their activities take them, we’re right behind them.”