Jackson School System Honored For Work To Teach Kids Appreciation

The Jackson County School District recognized for its program designed to teach young people the art of appreciating others.

The system received the region’s Best School System Appreciation Program Award in The Region award from the organization Utrust. Jackson County Director of Schools Jason Hardy said it is important to both provide students with an education and teach them to be good citizens. He said their appreciation program has students do various things to show their appreciation to teachers and each other.

“Even if it is as simple as saying thank you, or maybe we give them something small a token of appreciation,” Hardy said. “Once again going back to being recognized. It doesn’t have to be in a national magazine something saying thank you goes a long way.”

Utrust sponsors appreciation programs in school districts across the state. Hardy said each month has a different theme, and last month was superintendent appreciation month.

“We combined that with collecting food on my behalf,” Hardy said. “To appreciate the superintendent we’re also going to make that into a community event where we are going to feed families and students in need.”

Hardy said he still thinks one of the best forms of appreciation is just saying thank you.

“In today’s age when we have so much social media, and we’ve got information going all the time, it’s important to just remember a simple couple of words of appreciation can make all the difference in a person’s life,” Hardy said.

Utrust is made of of a seven-member Board of Trustees elected by participating school boards.