An academic mentoring charity has hired veteran educator Timothy Jackson as its executive director.

Dr Jackson, chairman of the Board of Education and instructional leader, will assume his role with the Impact Mentoring Academy (IMA) in September for the 2021/2022 academic year.

Coming to the post with several decades of experience in education in the US and Bermuda, Dr Jackson will oversee the Academy’s curriculum design, instructional delivery and staff development, and will liaise with the board’s finance committee in fundraising activities.

Dr Jackson said: “I have had the benefit of being mentored by several persons who have been very influential in my life. As a result, I am well aware of the benefits that mentoring can contribute to a person's development, particularly to young males, and therefore I am passionate about mentorship as a key component to unlock the potential of every student.”

Dr Jackson was a teacher at Whitney Institute and deputy principal at CedarBridge Academy.

He served as principal at Sandys Secondary School from 2007 to 2016 and was appointed to the Board of Education as chairman in 2019.

Impact provides academic mentoring and STEAM education to male students. Now in its 15th year, it also offers leadership development, and internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

Calvin White, Impact’s board chairman, said: “Dr Jackson is an excellent fit to lead the institution, as his significant academic, educational administrative and instructional experience will enable IMA to enhance the quality of curriculum offering and delivery to our student body.

“As an existing member of the IMA Board of Directors, Dr Jackson is well acquainted with the ethos and objectives of the school. By leveraging his educational leadership experience and his own mentoring expertise, he will provide unparalleled guidance to the school and mentoring to our students.”

Dr Jackson said he was impressed by the philosophy at Impact that every student has unique potential.

“The ultimate goal is to address the needs of the whole student – the academic, social, emotional and spiritual needs,” he said.

“I’m excited to work with the teachers, the parents, and board members, in a collaborative effort, to ensure that all of our students have the tools necessary to be successful, positive, productive citizens here in Bermuda, and throughout the world, also preparing them for the workforce, if they so choose, immediately upon graduation, or for tertiary education.”

He said his immediate goal is to ensure there is “rigour and relevance” in the curriculum to empower students to compete locally and globally.

Dr Jackson added: “I want to ensure that our students will have the necessary skills to be admitted to the colleges and universities of their choosing.”

Impact’s principal Shayne Scott, who has led IMA for the past two years, will leave the school this summer.

According to Impact’s figures, the academy has a student retention rate of 91 per cent, a graduation rate of 96 per cent and a graduate placement rate of 97 per cent.

For more information visit www.impactbda.com/