Waco Teacher Shares Passion For Reading In Middle Eastern School

WACO, TX — A Waco area school teacher won’t be spending her Thanksgiving break with the traditional American trimmings of mashed potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie.

No, in fact, Garret Jackson will be spending the holiday in the Middle East and doing something that will not only impact her life, but the lives of children there, too.

Garret Jackson, a reading specialist at South Bosque Elementary, will be joining her daughter Lauren Jackson and will be working with children in Syrian refugee camps in Azraq and Zaatari, to teach an innovative program from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education’s Orton-Gillingham training methodology that will help teachers in these camps to teach the children reading comprehension and multi-sensory strategies for learning.

“The need is so great and my daughter is so passionate about helping,” Garret said. “Prior to Lauren going, I had no idea how many people are actually in these refugee camps and had no concept of the challenges they face educationally.”

But Lauren, who has been in the camps since August as part of a fellowship with American University, shared her experiences with her mother, and asked her to come help.

“How can you say no to that,” Garret said.

Garret Jackson left on Nov. 11, and will in there for two weeks passing on her vital knowledge of this program.

Hayley Burns, a partner with River Strategies representing the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education, said Garret Jackson’s experience as a reading specialist makes this trip and her work in Jordan all the more important to the program.

“She was just certified in the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education’s Orton-Gillingham Methodology, which is really why she is perfect for this role, because it’s specific to ELL (English Language Learner) as well as the tough situations where children are trying to learn and in giant public school systems where the classes are huge,” Burns said.

The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education works with school districts that helps provide education strategies to help children read at grade level, and employs strategies to teach children who are not native english speakers.

“Their whole mission is to get kids reading more quickly,” Burns said.

While the program is a vital tool in American classrooms, the trip to Jordan into a less than controlled educational environment makes the third-world classroom experiences of Garret and Lauren Jackson, very important to the program.

“We know this is just a beginning,” Garret said. “I hope that this trip- enables me to plant seeds, learn more about the needs and find out additional ways we and others can be helpful.”

Image: Courtesy photo: Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

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