Jackie Rosswurm
Life is a Classroom
January 2025 Issue
by Edwina Hoyle
Photography by
Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC
Jackie Rosswurm, Ph.D, sees life differently than most people. Teaching, learning, and problem solving drive many facets of her life, and she often handles challenges and opportunities with these classroom techniques. It’s a recipe for success, and her resume proves it.
Jackie hails from Monroe, Michigan, a small town south of Detroit where the automotive industry was king. Monroe was a factory town where packing materials and cardboard were made to supply the automotive industry. Jackie grew up in an average family and was the oldest of three children, the only girl, and the first in her family to go to college.
By elementary school, Jackie knew she wanted to go to college. “In my mind there was never a question about my going onto college. My mother was my biggest cheerleader and consummate critic. She would question my ideas and plans, which further helped to build my problem-solving skills.”
“I entered the world of teaching and was thoroughly enjoying it when, out of the blue one day, shortly after moving to Hilton Head Island from Westchester County New York, I decided to quit teaching to pursue a job in marketing.” Where that idea came from Jackie does not know, and that job only lasted six months. Jackie recalled, “Those six months out of the classroom made me realize just how important my education career was to me.”
Over the span of a 44+ years career, it was Jackie’s work as a math teacher that made her understand the value of problem solving; the mindset for how to approach problems. “What is the problem, and how can ‘We,’ not ‘I,’ solve it? In solving problems, I learned that we must respect each other for our problem-solving skills and what we can do together.”
Jackie loved being a principal; in fact, it was her favorite job. “As a school principal, on any given day, you are somewhere between a queen and a rock star. As a principal, your classroom includes not only students, but teachers, and parents. What great fun!”
Her career moves were many. She loved the different parts of education and the challenges and learning each offered. In Beaufort County she taught at the old McCracken Middle School in Bluffton, became the principal there, and then opened what is now Hilton Head Island Middle School. She also served as Chief of Staff for former State Superintendent, Barbara Nielsen. Jackie later returned to Beaufort County as Chief Administrative and Human Resource Services Officer and Acting Superintendent.
During her 44 years, Jackie opened Oglethorpe Academy Charter School in Savannah, as well as the Neighborhood Charter School and the Atlanta Charter Middle School in Atlanta. “Again the “We Leadership,” not “I leadership,” proved itself strong and successful,” she said.
“When I get invested, I’m very dedicated and willing to do what it takes. I have been really lucky to have great support and amazing mentors. I’m pretty outspoken, and I’m sure I’ve driven people crazy with my drive sometimes, but I’m willing to do the work.” A perfect example of this is when a friend asked for her help in 2016 to establish an organization called Turtle Trackers. They started with seven members, and today, there are roughly 800. “I believe that is a clear example of the power of people working together on a common goal.”
Jackie served as a member of the Board of Directors of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) for six years. During the pandemic she had the rare opportunity to serve as the Interim CEO for nine months. “This was different, yet similar to many of my educational experiences. It was problem solving, so I brought the entire staff together and listened. Together, we defined and refined our situation and set out a plan for success, including managing the very successful COVID-19 Response Fund.”
“I served for three years as Chair of the Board, and walking into Community Foundation offices today is one of my greatest joys. I have a great sense of pride around all that happens there on a daily basis.”
In October, the Foundation for Educational Excellence named Dr. Jacqueline (Jackie) Rosswurm the 2024 “Peggy May Inspiration Award” recipient for her leadership and commitment to education, organizational development, and the community of Beaufort County.
Up Close:
• Jackie loves to bake cookies, brownies and all kinds of sweets. She brings them to meetings or when visiting friends. At home she keeps her cookies in an old cookie jar that was in her home as a child.
• Her dog, LoLa, which stands for Lovely Lady, is her fourth Standard Poodle and her second rescue dog.
• Jackie golfs, but claims she is not the world’s best golfer. But that doesn’t matter to her because as she says, “It’s just golf!”
• Recently Jackie received birthday wishes from a student (who found her on Facebook) that she taught 52 years ago in New York . She shared that Jackie was her favorite teacher. “This is just one of the great benefits of being a teacher…the students, the many, many students.”