MY WHY - Jackie Share, Language Services Facilitator at Holmes

Jackie Share’s greatest reward comes from watching students grow, overcome challenges, and discover their potential.

From the moment she stepped into the classroom, Jaclyn Share knew she had found where she was meant to be. Teaching isn’t just her career—it’s her calling. For her, the greatest reward comes from watching students grow, overcome challenges, and discover their potential. Each success story, big or small, affirms that she is right where she belongs, playing a part in shaping the lives and futures of the young people she serves.

Share is a District 21 alumna, a former student of Whitman Elementary and Holmes Middle Schools. After graduating from Wheeling High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis and started teaching right away in Palatine, hoping she would eventually return to District 21. At first, she was a bilingual teacher, instructing students in Spanish on all subjects. Now, she is a Language Services Facilitator at Holmes Middle School, where she feels right at home. “I love what I do. I’m given different opportunities to get students on board with school and experiences to develop who they are and who they want to be. I’m at a place where I can exercise my creativity to make an impact on students and watch them grow,” she states. 

While middle school students can be challenging, Share sees it as an opportunity to ground herself, allowing for humor to seep in and not to take herself so seriously. “Every day is a new day, and the environment helps me problem-solve. I am grateful to be able to help students not just with curriculum, but with soft skills as well,” she shares. She also helps students who are not language proficient acclimate to a new environment. “Every day is a new day and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at a district that allows me to take risks to help the students,” she states. “It’s a place of comfort for me and I want it to be a place of comfort for them.”

She is currently a cross country coach at Holmes and sponsors various clubs throughout the school year. Whether she’s cheering students on the field or guiding English learners in the classroom, Share proves that strength, endurance, and heart matter just as much in education as they do in athletics.

Outside of school, Share is a fan of fitness and competes in triathlons. But her greatest joy comes from her family. She loves spending time with her children, whether that means shuttling them to their many activities, cheering them on from the sidelines, or curling up together to read. Her home life, much like her classroom, is filled with energy, encouragement, and laughter. Adding to that sense of community, her husband also works at Holmes, making the school not just a workplace, but a shared family home away from home.

For Share, teaching, parenting, and coaching are all woven together by the same thread: the belief that growth happens when people feel supported and inspired. Her story is a reminder that education isn’t just about books or classrooms—it’s about building relationships, fostering resilience, and creating a sense of belonging. And if you happen to see her on the track, in the classroom, or with a book in hand beside her kids, you’ll see the same thing she hopes her students see every day: that when you lead with heart, you can cross any finish line.