Heather Jacobson is currently earning her Master of Education degree in Elementary Education at Kutztown University. After she graduates in 2018, she plans to pursue a Doctorate degree in Education, teach abroad, and learn a new language, eventually incorporating the concepts she’s learned into her own classroom.
Staff Writer
“By continuing to educate myself I can better serve my students,” Heather said. “My pursuit to educate others goes hand in hand with my own desire to seek knowledge and understanding.”
Heather describes herself as a “person who enjoys learning and helping others.” This is evident in her academic life as well as her work and personal life. She is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda National honor society for graduate students. Heather is also a busy mom with two children and has been a Girl Scout leader for ten years.
Staff Question: Explain why you believe that immigration is an important issue in our communities that needs to be confronted by our elected officials.
Compassion toward immigrants is imperative. When we fail immigrants, we fail their children; when we fail children, we fail our communities.
“As a teacher of English language development I am aware that many of my students’ families face the challenges of immigration. I have worked with six-year-old students who are fearful for their futures; they worry about their family’s security and stability. I have seen students move in, move out, and/or move suddenly in fear of one or more of their family members being deported. All of this instability and worry are added layers of challenge that my students face. Their education suffers greatly when they have so much more to be concerned about before the curriculum. They wonder about their family staying together, about their family member’s health, where and how they will get their next meal, all this and more even before arriving at school each day.
“This undoubtedly makes immigration a community issue that our elected officials need to consider. Many of my students are born in America but have first generation immigrants as parents, and their parents’ struggles are their struggles. The very fact that immigration is a social issue makes it a problem that elected officials need to address with compassion because so many individuals within our society are affected by it.”
Writing Wrongs 