FRIPP ISLAND, SC, October 20, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mary Thornton Jacobs, EdD, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Jacobs is an esteemed professor, administrator, and author celebrating more than 40 years of expertise in educational leadership prior to her retirement. Her early school experiences were overwhelmingly positive, and she credits several of her teachers with encouraging her love of learning and HER desire to become an educator. After earning an Associate of Arts in home economics at Middle Georgia College, Dr. Jacobs continued her education at the University of Georgia, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and home economics in 1975.
While completing her studies at the University of Georgia, Dr. Jacobs worked as an assistant educational coordinator for Head Start of North Carolina, supervising professional development and caregiver involvement at six facilities. She began her career as a classroom teacher in 1975, and dedicated the next four years to teaching second and third grade before accepting a position at Lee County Elementary in 1979. While she would continue to work with primary grades students, Dr. Jacobs was also responsible for administering enrichment programs for gifted students at the K-12 level and leading the school's Governor's Honors Program.
During these years, Dr. Jacobs pursued coursework at Georgia Southwestern College, eventually obtaining a Master of Education in early childhood education in 1985. She remained active in the classroom until 1993, at which point she shifted her attention to educational administration. Having accrued a professional certificate in educational leadership at the University of Georgia, she was appointed as an assistant principal at Dacula Elementary. Dr. Jacobs would serve as assistant principal at three elementary schools over the next seven years.
In 1998, Dr. Jacobs concluded her academic efforts with a Doctor of Education in instructional administration from Nova Southwestern University. From 2000 to 2007, she flourished as the principal of Henderson Middle School until her retirement. Dr. Jacobs maintained her involvement as the director of curriculum for the Butts County School System until 2009, synthesizing her expertise in classroom best practices with her understanding of school leadership at the both the elementary and secondary levels.
In 2000, Dr. Jacobs joined the faculty of Mercer University as an adjunct professor of educational leadership, rising to assistant professor in 2009. She was instrumental in the design of the school's PhD program in educational leadership, and operated as the coordinator of the Educational Specialist postgraduate program for much of her tenure, supervising internships and practicum placements in addition to teaching. She remains in practice as a private consultant, speaker, and training coordinator, with clients including several of the largest school districts in Georgia and South Carolina. Dr. Jacobs' writing has been published in Middle Grounds, and she has been invited to present at numerous conferences and training workshops.
Dr. Jacobs notably authored "Inspiring Future Leaders Through Coaching and Mentoring" in 2015, a leadership and professional development guidebook, and the award-winning "Big Daddy Raccoon" series of six illustrated books for young readers, including "Big Daddy and Friends on Fripp Island" in 2020. The "Big Daddy Raccoon" books have been profiled in Parenting magazine, and have received accolades for their gentle and engaging introduction to the natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry ecosystem. Dr. Jacobs is currently developing an animated series based on the books, and looks forward to returning to speaking, touring and presenting as soon as circumstances allow.
Throughout her career, Dr. Jacobs has lived by the philosophy that if something is wrong, the only thing to do is work to change it. Dedicated to creating improvement everywhere that she can, she is deeply involved with numerous community development organizations, including the Fripp Island Search and Sea Rescue, who receive a portion of profits from the sale of her "Big Daddy Raccoon" books, Fripp Island Community Care, and the Fripp Island Women's Club, with which she participates on the hospitality committee. A past president of the Turtle Cove Women's Club and a former member of the board of the Butts County Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Jacobs considers her 47-year marriage, two children and three grandchildren to be her greatest accomplishment.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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