Staff Developer Spotlight: Jason Jacobs

“As an educator, I feel like this moment is calling me to find ways to help others connect across screens -- especially our students,” says Jason Jacobs, a Morningside Center staff developer. “We've all been thrown into isolation, so finding ways to build trust and connection in the online space feels urgent. None of us had any time to prepare for this, and there are so many obstacles ... but anything I can do to help a young person become more comfortable turning ON their camera, showing their face, and speaking, gives me hope that we can create connection.”

Jason joined Morningside Center as a staff developer in 2019, and has been a teaching artist in NYC schools for over 12 years. He thrives on creating experiences for youth to express their whole selves, find their voices, develop their leadership skills, and raise critical consciousness -- through disciplines of storytelling, movement, performance, and writing. Working with Education at Roundabout, he’s led professional development to help teachers develop engagement strategies and activate project-based-learning in their classrooms.  He has also written curriculum for arts and ELA. Jason is a stage director and playwright, with a B.A. from Yale and M.F.A. in directing from Columbia. 
 

See Online Games to Get Your Class Engaged & Connected, a set of eight fun SEL online activities that Jason created in collaboration with Laurine Towler.