Mrs. Ross is joining Hillside Academy this school year as the Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. She holds a degree in Secondary Education with a Social Studies endorsement from Northwest University and brings three years of teaching experience in middle school classrooms.

Mrs. Ross felt called to education because of her desire to encourage and support the next generation—especially during the pivotal middle school years. She believes that these years are crucial for students to discover who they are and is passionate about helping them grow. Her teaching philosophy centers around the belief that every student can learn and thrive when given a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment.

In Social Studies, Mrs. Ross aims to ignite curiosity and a love of history by helping students understand its relevance and importance. In Language Arts, she hopes to inspire a genuine love of reading and writing.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Ross enjoys photography, camping, fishing, and traveling with her family. A favorite adventure of hers was living on Maui for a year, where she also taught middle school social studies. Some of her favorite books include The Boys in the Boat, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Four Winds, and she’s always up for a good action movie or country song.

Jacki and her husband are parents to a lively toddler daughter who keeps them smiling—and on their toes. A quote that guides her life is one from Mother Teresa: “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”