Cory Jackson did not start his career in education. Like many, he took a less traditional path into teaching. He spent 16 years working as a personal chef and assistant, traveling to cities all over the world, including Berlin, Paris, and Rome. He enjoyed his work but didn’t find it fulfilling. Believing he still had more to offer, he began to consider how his work could have a direct impact on his community. “I didn’t feel like I was giving what I thought I should be giving,” he said.
Five years ago, Cory began working as a paraprofessional at Queensborough Elementary School in Shreveport, Louisiana. Principal Dr. Marco French saw his potential as an educator and encouraged him to continue his education through Reach University. “He told me, ‘This is your calling. This is what you’re going to be doing,’” he recalled.
Flash forward to today: Cory was one of 13 Reach graduates recognized by the Caddo Parish School Board in July, marking the university’s largest graduating class in the parish to date.
Through Reach University’s Apprenticeship Degree, Cory earned his Bachelor of Arts in Global Education and completed the requirements for teacher licensure in four years, all while continuing to work in a school, without taking on student debt. For undergraduate candidates, Reach degrees are designed for a maximum expected out-of-pocket cost of $900 per year, with no student debt. The model is designed for working adults employed by Reach partners; it makes the workplace the heart of the college experience, allowing candidates to earn academic credit for learning they complete on the job and to apply their coursework with students each day.
As Cory progressed through the program, student teaching helped him see himself differently. Before one of his first lessons, a professor reminded him to trust his preparation. He completed the lesson from beginning to end and left the classroom with what he described as the biggest smile on his face.
After the lesson, a teacher from the classroom next door even approached him afterward. She said, “Mr. Jackson, we heard you over there teaching. You are a teacher,” Cory recalled with a smile.
His path to graduation included significant personal loss. Within a year, Cory lost his godmother, father, grandmother, and an uncle who had been another father figure in his life. He also became an important source of support for his mother as their family grieved. One thing that helped Cory stay persistent through this painful time was something his father had told him: “You have it in you. You’re stronger than you think.”
Even on difficult days, Cory continued to attend class, complete assignments, and encourage his classmates. After his first year at Reach, he earned straight A’s in every class through graduation. He credits much of that persistence to the people who supported him. His advisor, Veada Pauls, and professor, Pamela Bell, prayed with him, encouraged him, and became more than academic resources. “We really became like family,” Cory said. He found that same sense of community among his classmates.
Today, Cory focuses on building strong relationships with his third graders and helping them see possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances. He often shares photographs from his international travels to show them where their own futures could take them. “This can be you,” he tells them. “You can go here and do this. But first, you have to believe in yourself.”
Looking back on his Reach journey, he reflects on the family members, educators, classmates, and school communities who helped him reach this point. He hopes his experience reminds other working adults that returning to college is still possible.
For Cory, earning his degree was not the end of the story. It is another step toward becoming the educator he believes he was called to be and helping his students believe more is possible for them, too.