Student Support Technician Cierra Jackson sits at her desk in the Clarke Central High School Media Center. Jackson was hired at the beginning of this school year. “I’m open all the time if (students) want to come in here and they’re having a bad day and they need (me), the teacher can feel free to bring them in and let them come in here and do their work and if there’s any way that I can help, I’m always willing to help,” Jackson said. Photo by Elena Gilbertson Hall.
By ELENA GILBERTSON HALL – Print Staff Writer
Student Support Technician Cierra Jackson was hired the first week of the 2016-17 school year and is a former gladiator.
Cierra Jackson graduated from Clarke Central High School in 2012 and studied physical education at the University of North Georgia before accepting the job of Student Support Technician and returning to CCHS this year.
“I wanted to come back (to CCHS) and give back, and, I wanted to kind of come here and coach (basketball) as well, so I figured, why not go in the school and be involved with the kids in any way you could possibly be involved?” Jackson said.
Although Jackson’s major duties involve technology, her main goal is forming relationships with the students.
“I’m trying to motivate (the students) to get involved with things a little more, and maybe just step outside of their comfort zone and the way that I’m trying to do that is by building a relationship with them first, so that they see Ms. Jackson truly cares,” Jackson said.
CCHS Media Specialist Lindy Weaver knew Jackson previously and sees her work ethic transferring to her job this year.
“(I) knew Ms. Jackson from when she was a student here and knew how dynamic she was and what a good leader she was and how much she liked being a positive influence on her peers,” Weaver said. “So we were hoping that would translate to being a positive influence on the students here at Clarke Central (when she got hired).”
Teen Tech member Charlotte Reynolds, a CCHS junior, is unsure whether most students even know there is a SST.
“Most students are very unaware of anybody they don’t see on a regular basis. The only ones who probably know are the people who come to the media center regularly,” Reynolds said.
Weaver however, thinks Jackson is bringing more students to the media center on a regular basis.
“(Jackson has) made a huge difference in the media center already, and it’s making students who may not normally feel welcome in the library come and start hanging out and that’s our main goal,” Weaver said. “For this to be a welcoming place for every student at Clarke Central.”
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