LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Clint Jackson was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

Mr. Jackson is an Electrical Instructor at United Technologies Center (UTC), a regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) school in Maine. He exemplifies what it means to be a LifeChanger.

"In education, there are many metrics by which we can see the difference we make for students. It may be raw test scores, daily performance, growth over time, end-of-the-year outcomes, budding confidence, etc. We continuously see great outcomes from Clint's electrical program. The program results demonstrate Clint's ability to positively deliver content material, facilitate growth and learning, and cultivate success year after year. He achieves this through his ability to connect and mentor his students and create a nurturing classroom environment where students can safely collaborate and learn," said his nominator.

Over the past several years, Mr. Jackson has developed UTC's Electrical Program into one of the best training programs in the State of Maine. The most obvious indicator of success is that his program is highly sought after, with a yearly waiting list. Students who attend his program routinely become employed as Helper Electricians before they graduate high school, and most continue to post-secondary education while working full-time as they work towards their Journeyman and Master Electrician Certifications.

Even those who complete his program but do not enter the electrical profession show immeasurable growth upon graduation in technical skills, teamwork, and self-confidence. While most students in his program are interested in electrical, not all want to attend college. Through Mr. Jackson's rigorous curriculum, which includes earning early college credit, and his supportive classroom atmosphere, he builds confidence in all his students to tackle challenges.

Mr. Jackson makes every effort to know his students and build meaningful, long-lasting relationships that continue well past graduation. He knows where his post-graduate students are and how they are doing, and they often return to speak to current students and become mentors themselves. Another indicator of success has been the multiple awards Mr. Jackson's students earned at the Maine State SkillsUSA Competition over the past few years, with two students qualifying for the National SkillsUSA Competition and representing Maine on the national stage. When asked to attend the national trip as a chaperone this past June in Atlanta, GA, Mr. Jackson did not hesitate at the chance to support his student.

"Clint not only is an incredible example for his students, but he is also a mentor for new instructors both in our building and through collaboration with the local community college, inspiring his colleagues and other new career and technical educators from all over the State of Maine," said his nominator. "Anyone who has worked in education knows how difficult the first few years of teaching can be. This is especially true for CTE instructors, who often come to education directly after working in the industry. For the majority, secondary education is a brand-new world. As Clint has developed effective classroom management and processes, he has been quick to share that information with others so that they may also have success in their own programs."

"Day after day, Clint takes the initiative to make things better. When he noticed a gap in our new teacher mentoring program, he actively sought ways to improve it, creating tools that other mentors could use to support all new teachers effectively and consistently. Clint actively seeks out industry partnerships to improve the learning experience for his students, which has increased classroom resources and training opportunities. He often acts as a sounding board for administrators, giving critical feedback from an instructor's perspective," said his nominator.

"A few months ago, one of Clint's former students tragically passed away in a workplace accident, which was devastating for Clint, our school community, and the local electrical industry. In his grieving, Clint sprang into action, working with the student's family to create a scholarship fund in the student's name that will benefit future graduates pursuing their career in electrical. From Clint's efforts, we saw industry partners, community members, and former students come together in full force. The scholarship is a true testament to the positive impact and relationships that Clint has developed through the years," said his nominator.

Mr. Jackson also maintains the highest moral and ethical standards in all that he does. He understands that his classroom is not only a place for students to learn a trade but also a place where many invaluable life lessons happen. He upholds the highest safety standards in his classroom and reinforces this in the lab setting. Mr. Jackson is an outstanding role model who takes every opportunity to relate classroom work to the real world. Mr. Jackson is honest and fair, and his students and colleagues have a significant amount of respect for him.

"I can assure you that Clint is among the best. Our UTC community is fortunate to have his leadership, integrity, and heart working for our betterment. I can think of no other educator more deserving of recognition than Clint Jackson," said his nominator.