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Jeanne Jacobs – MATH DEPARTMENT, 1996-2021

For Jeanne, faith, family, and community are at the heart of everything that she does. Jeanne began her relationship with Milton as a parent (of Nia and Daniel). While attending a presentation to Lower School parents by then Director of Multicultural Affairs Christine Savini, Jeanne met Christine at the coffee station, where a professional relationship began. Soon after, Christine encouraged Jeanne to apply for an opening in the Math Department. Jeanne declined, stating that she wanted to continue giving back to her public school upbringing at Cambridge Rindge and Latin, which had prepared her for a B.A. at Harvard, an M. Ed. at Washington University, and then to Harvard Graduate School of Education to pivot toward the teaching of mathematics.

However, two years later, in 1996, an economic crunch in Cambridge changed Jeanne’s circumstances. So, Jeanne called Christine back to inquire about teaching positions. There were two! Long story short, Jeanne accepted the offer (Terri HerrNeckar accepted the other) and the start of her 25 years and countless contributions to our community began. As a teacher, Jeanne had faith in her students, and in each class she worked to build a learning community. Jeanne has constantly reflected on her practice with her focus squarely on the needs of her students. Jeanne took the time to find out each student’s “politics of location” as she tried to get to know each one’s interests, activities, and concerns so that she could find the best way to support their good work. Whether it was getting precocious Class IV student trained in creating durable artifacts of their learning or coaxing a Class I student already mired in the ever-expanding “college process” to think deeply about the concepts of calculus, Jeanne was clear in setting expectations and unwavering in sup- porting her students in meeting them.

As one who has taught many courses with Jeanne over the years, from Algebra thru Calculus, I know that I was always a better teacher when teaching with Jeanne because of her ability to center the conversation around the student experience while understanding the scaffold of mathematIcs at the core. And as a colleague, Jeanne has blurred the lines between community and family. Jeanne has made positive connections with so many of us over her time here. For me, I have enjoyed the many laughs that we have shared over the years as we have worked hand in hand to do the work we both love—whether donning Star Trek uniforms on Twin Day (no, not the red ones!); or attending a Red Sox game with Terri, Elaine, Jackie, and/ or Anne; exchanging knitting ideas with Anne and Asher et al.; or sharing her latest “good read” or “good watch”; attend- ing the latest sci-fi opening with Sue and others; or even taking a cross-country trip with Terri during a sabbatical in 2005. Jeanne has made Milton her home long enough to become the first African American on “the wall.”

As Jeanne often reminded us in SEED, “We are all in different places in our journey.” Jeanne has reached the conclusion of one journey and the start of a new one in retirement. Jeanne is, unapologetically, a teacher/ mom at heart, sharing “tough mom love” in a “cool mom” way. It was fitting that she had two performances dedicated to her at Baccalaureate, and was called out for her loving guidance in a valedictory speech.

Jeanne’s students, advisees, and colleagues always knew that she was in their corner (and some- times in their business). It’s what good parents do and what great teachers do. Jeanne is both, which is one reason why both of her children have followed in similar footsteps. Jeanne will be missed, but not forgotten, and I trust that she will remain connected to us through her daughter-in-law Sarah, who is joining the science department next year. Thank you! —GREGG REILLY

The Community Issue

What do we owe to one another, our communities, and the world? In this issue, we take a look at what “community” means to Milton and the ways in which the school goes beyond the jargon to create genuine, mutually beneficial, lasting connections.