Skip To Main Content

trigger-container

mobile-main-nav

mobile-district-nav

mobile-i-want-to-nav

mobile-cta-nav

mobile-header-nav

header-container

header-top

i-want-to-nav

trigger-container

header-nav tablet

header-bottom

cta-nav

Breadcrumb

Wilcox Devotes Career to Enriching South Jackson

Wilcox Devotes Career to Enriching South Jackson

Children outside exploring an orchard, teachers conducting lessons in the beauty of an outdoor classroom, students planting seeds and harvesting produce, and classrooms singing educational songs written by a staff member. This is the image of an average day at South Jackson Elementary School and the vision and passion of Gifted Coordinator Thomas Wilcox. 

Wilcox has spent his entire career in education at SJES and has made enrichment his mission. After studying psychology and music at the University of Georgia, Wilcox realized his gifts lie with elementary students.

"I loved working with kids because every day was different, because they just thought differently than adults, and luckily, I still have that passion all these years later," said Wilcox.

Wilcox's passion has led him to establish many enrichment opportunities for students and teachers at SJES. "I'm a huge fan of cross-curricular stuff. Not seeing this is math time, this is science time, just constantly making connections, and seeing that the students are making connections," said Wilcox.

Having been a fifth-grade teacher before becoming the Gifted coordinator, Wilcox constantly seeks ways to help teachers implement enrichment programs and creativity into their lessons more easily. 

"[I] just want to make every day as magical as possible for both [the teachers] and the kids. It's really easy to lose sight of what might very well be the most important things we leave these students with,” Wilcox said.

In an effort to leave students with meaningful and magical experiences, Wilcox played a part in establishing an outdoor classroom, an orchard, school-wide enrichment adventures, and passion-driven clubs known as "Eagle Experiences." In addition to all the fantastic work in the homeroom settings, such as project-based learning and meaningful morning meetings, Wilcox also cited South Jackson's specials teachers' countless contributions towards enriching students daily. 

South Jackson's Outdoor Classroom, a pavilion with electricity, tables, and chairs, allows teachers to expand their classroom into the outdoors. Wilcox works with the teachers and students to brainstorm ways this classroom can be used most effectively. Wilcox also pioneered the development of the orchard after an inquisitive student wondered, "What would happen if we planted pomegranate seeds?". This orchard can be used to teach science, math, and history lessons. 

"My philosophy is: How can we create lessons and experiences with students where almost every moment is a light-bulb moment?,” said Wilcox, who grew Eagle Experiences from this philosophy. "Eagle Experiences are our clubs during school where the kids have a choice in following some of their passions from sports to technology, to cooking to science. The more we are giving every student access to these programs, the better."

When asked about the impact that Wilcox has seen these programs have on SJES, he said, "First and foremost, a happier school, which I love. Our attendance is up; we have statistics on that, and it's connected me with so many more students. 

“I know for myself that just seeing the enjoyment that [the students] are getting out of school, the wonder, the more open-ended questions on their end, has been amazing. It's something that I always attempted to do myself, but now that we are doing it on more of a school-wide level, it's been pretty powerful." 

Wilcox is passionate about enrichment and encourages other educators interested in implementing similar programs. 

"Go for it, experiment. There's enough room there,” Wilcox said. “Just don't lose sight of how important creativity and critical thinking are and how easy it is to access those things."

Wilcox reminisces on his twenty-one-year career at SJES by saying "There's no other place I would like to be. South, through hard times and easy times, has been one that's seen as strong in the family aspect, a school family. To keep that torch alive is really, really, really important to me because it just trickles down. If the staff is a well-functioning, healthy family, then that's going to help our kids out." 

Wilcox has devoted his career to helping SJES expand its student enrichment programs and has no plans to stop anytime soon. When asked about Wilcox's impact on SJES, one of SJ's Assistant Principals, Dr. Em Headley, expresses, "Mr. Wilcox brings a unique perspective and flair to his work at South Jackson. He advocates for school-wide enhancement experiences and provides multiple connections throughout the school day. He encourages teachers to provide enrichment opportunities with zeal. Whether he is preparing materials for kindergarten classes to use in an adventure challenge or helping fifth graders write a song about the stock market, Mr. Wilcox exudes creativity and a can-do spirit."

Wilcox can be found in the halls and outdoors of South Jackson Elementary School, helping teachers, conversing with students, teaching original songs, tending to the orchard, and dreaming about how to truly make every day a great day at SJ.