Amos Alonzo Stagg High School teacher and coach Brian Jackson was recently honored in a Teacher Spotlight, sponsored by the IHSA and Country Financial, to recognize the efforts of educators and coaches/advisors who go beyond the call of duty to positively impact the lives of Illinois high school students inside and outside of the classroom.
A bass fishing coach for the past 15 years, Jackson is also the head wrestling coach and a health and physical education teacher at Stagg.
Sectional bass fishing champions in 2015, Jackson supports the interests of novices while challenging experienced or skilled anglers to become better and earn a spot as one of the top-eight team members. The team’s goal every year is to be among the top teams in the state.
When asked about the most rewarding part of teaching, Jackson said, “I absolutely love the impact we have on kids on a daily basis. I love supporting their physical development and giving them strategies to develop lifelong healthy habits.”
Similarly, when asked about coaching, he said, “I love to see the development of our anglers. Each year there are additional students interested in this lifetime activity. They come with or without experience and all have the opportunity to participate in something they enjoy.”