On Wednesday, April 5, many friends and family met in the Performing Arts Center to celebrate the retirement of Head of Lower School Sarah Love. Love’s three children traveled to the event to show their support for the dedication their mother demonstrated through her 21 years at Jackson Academy. Faculty and staff shared personal stories with Love about her influence at Jackson Academy over the years.
The large crowd enjoyed refreshments and reminiscing. Many retired and former faculty and staff members returned to wish Love the best. A photo collage book with images spanning the years of Love’s tenure sat at the reception table so attendees could write messages. Faculty from the Lower School presented gifts, including a collection of letters penned by members of the JA community.
JA’s President Emeritus Peter Jernberg, Board of Trustees Chair Robert Hederman, current Head of School Palmer Kennedy, Head of Preschool Sandra Triplett, and Head of Middle School Matt Morgan presented various program elements.
Peter Jernberg shared memories of Sarah Love’s hiring, using a copy of her original application to highlight her giftedness in many areas. He spoke of her writing ability, attention to detail, and leadership skills. Jernberg had initially set her application aside because no teaching positions were available at the time. When a position as assistant to the headmaster opened up, he recalled that application in a stack on his desk. He now believes he set it there because she was meant to be at JA.
Love’s career in education spans 35 years, during which she taught a variety of age groups from sixth grade to high school. In addition to teaching, she was the head of school of a small private school in the Mississippi Delta. She moved to the Jackson area to be closer to her family.
Love recalled her years at Jackson Academy, noting the many teachers, administrators, and staff she has worked with who have played a part in the success of JA and the Lower School and Preschool.
At the program’s close, current Head of School Palmer Kennedy offered a prayer for Love and made a request: He asked Love to finalize a school prayer she had started writing for JA. In addition to her influence on students and the school for the past 21 years, Kennedy could think of no better way for her to leave a lasting mark on JA.
Click here to read the feature story on page 8 of JA’s True Blue magazine to learn more about Sarah Love’s career and time at JA.
