I met Jackson in August 2011, as he was in my second grade class at Park Elementary in Kearney. There were 25 wonderful children in this class. Jackson quickly made friends and it was fun for me to watch these children bond in the classroom and at recess. Playing football and soccer were the games of choice at recess. The boys especially enjoyed chatting about how the Huskers played over the weekend, when we returned to school each Monday morning. Jackson was a positive role model for others and someone I could count on each day. He was especially excited when his father came to share his career as a writer with my students. Jon told the students about his interest in writing and movie making at a young age. As a teacher of young children, I wanted my students to know as beginning writers, they too could “dream big” and become writers when they grew up. Jackson’s mother was a gracious parent volunteer each week. Kathy would stop by one morning a week, to help the second graders, while I was teaching reading. Jackson loved having his mother there to hang out with his friends! As second grade was coming to a close, our last big project was reading the book “Flat Stanley.” Each student selected a special family member or friend to send their “Flat Parker” to, outside of Kearney. Jackson was excited, as he was sent his “Flat Parker” to to visit his uncle in St. Louis. The highlight of the trip was a visit to Busch Stadium to learn about the Cardinals. Jackson was proud of the pictures and story his uncle sent back to school. Jackson was always kind to others, very polite, and had a love for learning. I knew he was destined for great things! Jackson will always have a special place in my heart!
August 31, 2026