Mrs. Amy Jacobs currently teaches Kindergarten at Science & Arts Academy. Amy began her career in education in 1996 as a preschool teacher, and then served as a teacher's aide for library and information systems. She received her BA from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and earned her MEd from DePaul University.
Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Jacobs has taught in both public and independent schools as a classroom teacher, a self-contained gifted teacher, and as a gifted resource/support teacher. Amy eventually went on to teach in an independent school for gifted students and earned Illinois certification as a Gifted Education Teacher. She has taken coursework from the NASA Endeavor STEM certification program, and is currently working towards National Board Certification.
Amy has taught many courses in education and early childhood at the College of Lake County and has worked for both the Center for Gifted and Center for Talent Development as both an instructor and site coordinator. Amy is a member of the Illinois Association for Gifted Children, and the National Association for Gifted Children. She has presented at conferences for both the National Association for Gifted Children and the Independent School Association for the Central States.
As she began to learn more about what it meant to be gifted, she recognized giftedness in her own family members, and became an even more passionate advocate for gifted education. Amy is a parent of a current SAA student and an alumna, and believes that SAA has shaped her daughters into the wonderful young women they are today. “Teaching at SAA is special because we are truly a community of like-minded educators. My colleagues are all excited about their work, love to share ideas and enjoy taking on new challenges. It's great to work with people who get me.”
Outside of her classroom, Mrs. Jacobs is a Girl Scout Leader for the Brownies troop at SAA, active in her local Girl Scout chapter, and enjoys hiking, biking, and gardening.