Making a ‘Tremendous Mark’ on MUHSRead Time 12 min

Tom Jackson wasn’t a person who “always knew” he wanted to be a teacher — much less a high school teacher. In fact, the Pittsburgh native admits when he was pursuing his master’s degree in theology, working in a high school setting was pretty far from his mind.

“I participated in the Echo Program at Notre Dame, a service-learning program where students work toward an M.A. in theology while working full time at a Catholic parish,” he said. “When I was getting immersed in that, I was looking forward to heady conversations with adults, and spending time with cute little kids; but teens — they were terrifying.”

When the Echo program sent him to St. Agnes Parish in Butler, where he was mentored by the then-Christian Formation Director Gerry Wolf, he had no choice but to face his fears, and pray.

“Gerry was a great inspiration to me,” Jackson said. “Seeing his love for working with teens and being able to troubleshoot with him about what was working and what wasn’t — gradually, I became more confident. As I got to know the teens I was working with, I realized they are going through such an important turning point in their lives and what a privilege it is for me to be in the midst of that — to be able to help them through it and nudge them toward Jesus.”

After more than a decade in secondary education — seven years teaching and four years as theology department head at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee — it’s safe to say Jackson not only learned to love working with the 13- to 19-year-old age group, but he has excelled in that area.

Jackson is one of six Catholic school teachers from across the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to receive the inaugural Catholic Herald Teacher of the Year Award, which will be presented at the annual Catholic Schools Dinner on Tuesday, March 11. Jackson was nominated for the honor by Marquette University High School Principal Jeff Monday.

“Tom is a true role model for his students, consistently living out the Gospel values through his words and actions. His calm demeanor, genuine compassion and deep faith inspire those around him,” Monday said in his nomination. “Whether he is leading a classroom discussion, guiding students through challenging moments, or leading retreats or service projects, Tom is a testament to his commitment to living a Christ-centered life. His students look to him not only for his intellect but also as an example of how to live with integrity and faithfulness.”

Jackson, who attended public school in the Pittsburgh area, said though he was raised Catholic, it wasn’t a huge part of his life. It wasn’t until he started his undergraduate program at Harvard University, where he was planning to pursue a degree in environmental science, that he fell in love with God and cultivated a growing interest in the discipline of theology and religion. After he earned his master’s degree, Jackson taught high school theology in Boston for four years. In 2018, he and his wife, Andrea, relocated to Wisconsin when Andrea had an opportunity to work full time for Evangelical Catholic — a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lay people into intentional disciple makers.

“Making the decision to move was the easiest discernment of my life,” Jackson said.

After they arrived, Jackson applied for his current position at MUHS — the only such opening on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee website at the time.

“It definitely felt like God was at work,” he said.

Three years after arriving, Jackson became chair of the MUHS theology department. In this capacity, he taps into his deep knowledge of Catholicism and the richness of the Church’s teachings to help lead MUHS’s religion program.

Another area where his contributions are particularly beneficial, Monday said, is his ability to disaggregate and interpret schoolwide data, including qualitative data about students’ faith lives, so informed decisions can be made. His gift for working with data also extends to assisting with a schoolwide equity audit of student performance.

When working with data, however, Jackson is emphatic not to allow the human experience to get lost on a spreadsheet and reduce people to simple numbers, Monday added. He consistently keeps the greater purpose of his work and the mission of the school at the forefront.

Although the diversity of responsibilities makes his role interesting, Jackson said his favorite aspect remains working with the students. In addition to teaching, Jackson serves as assistant director of the Kairos retreat program — providing transformative opportunities for students to encounter God, reflect deeply on their faith and strengthen their relationships with God and others.

“The students continue to surprise and amaze me and challenge me to grow,” he said. “There are moments of hardship that come with teaching, but they are far surpassed by those moments when a student has a small transformation; something opens up in them — maybe as small as understanding something we are learning in class. There is nothing like it.”

It’s never easy being a high school student, but there is something qualitatively different about this generation, Jackson said.

“There is a pressure to always ‘be on’ — they feel the constant need to perform well, be productive and maintain a positive image across various aspects of their lives — academically, socially, athletically and in extracurricular activities. Then the college admission process is so competitive — I don’t think that I’d get into Harvard today with the resume I had.”

Faith and friendship, Jackson said, are key to thriving in high school.

“The word we use at MUHS is brotherhood,” Jackson said. “We need to show up, to be present and to connect in our physical selves with each other. Brotherhood and connection happen when we are seen and when we see the other.”

This philosophy, Monday said, underpins Jackson’s teaching and mentoring, creating a school culture that values presence, empathy and meaningful relationships.

“Tom is an exemplary Catholic educator whose faith, intellect and dedication have made a tremendous mark on MUHS students and our institution,” Monday said.

Jackson at a Glance

School: Marquette University High School

Years at school: 7

Years as a teacher: 11

Favorite Saint: I actually have three: St. Isidore the Farmer, Bl. Franz Jaegerstatter and St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Hobbies: I love reading and especially C.S. Lewis. I have read pretty much everything as far as apologetics he has written. Reading “The Great Divorce” was a major turning point in my faith. I also love science fiction. Another hobby I have is hiking. Last summer, I was able to hike in Spain when I took students on a pilgrimage. My wife and I also enjoyed visiting Acadia National Park in Maine last summer. Finally, I like playing board games. A current favorite is called Wingspan.

Favorite food: Steak, medium rare, especially the way my wife makes it.

Quote that guides your life: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians: 4:6-7