Learn how to learn.
That lesson is where it all started for KeRon Jackson, who credits one of his own math teachers growing up as an inspiration toward becoming a teacher himself.
“The way she inspired me to learn is really what drove me to want to do the same for other students,” said Jackson, now an English teacher at Destrehan High School. “And what she conveyed to me is that there’s no rush. There’s no competition. You’re the only one. You’re proving to yourself that you can do it.”
That focus on personal growth is a philosophy that shapes his own classroom.
Jackson knew by the 8th grade that he wanted to become a teacher.
“I decided that at some point in my life, I’d be teaching,” Jackson said. “I’ve always worked in education. When it felt like it was time for me to go into the classroom, that’s what I did. The teachers I had growing up in St. Charles Parish were very inspirational.”
Initially, he was more interested in teaching history than English. But once he reached college, he realized that literature reflects the historical moments in which it was written. He enjoys helping students understand the literary techniques and historical context that make classic works endure the test of time.
Jackson said he looks to help his students understand the “why” of an assignment. His primary goal is to show students that learning is attainable. He focuses on helping them master reading and analytical skills, believing those tools are more important to the big picture than whether or not a specific story itself is enjoyable for a student.
“It’s not necessarily about having to enjoy this book, but it’s ‘do I understand how to look for a metric that makes this book what it is?’ And that goes back to learning how to learn. Learning what it takes to master the concept. It’s not about having to enjoy the specific story that’s being told, but let’s master the skills that are used to be able to build the literature itself.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching, he said, is seeing reluctant students finish the semester with a new appreciation for reading and literature. Among his proudest accomplishments has been watching students demonstrate significant academic growth on state assessments after a demanding semester, proving to themselves that they could succeed.
“The number of kids I had in my spring course who, after going through what I’d call a rigorous time with me through the semester, they proved to themselves they can grow by taking that state exam and knocking it out the park,” said Jackson.
A St. Charles Parish native and Destrehan High graduate, he began teaching at the school as a long-term substitute in the spring of 2025 before joining the faculty full time the following school year.
Returning to teach at his alma mater felt like destiny, he said, after working elsewhere and realizing he wanted to bring what he had learned back home.
“I worked around the state and eventually through the Southern region of the country … but I felt like unless I’ve had an impact at home, the work everywhere else feels incomplete,” Jackson said. “Because you haven’t brought these lessons back home. Now, I am having that opportunity to share my knowledge, and it’s alongside a lot of the people who raised me and made me who I am.”
Many of the same teachers who inspired Jackson along his path are now showing him the ropes and embracing him as a colleague.
“They’re inviting me to the table where we make decisions. We talk about different things to educate the next generation of learners,” Jackson said. “And one thing I can say, having worked in different places, there is no community like the community in St. Charles Parish. I put that up against any institution nationally. So having them embrace me in that way is wonderful.”
