Kevin Jackson

Kevin Jackson has been teaching Government, Economics, and AP Government for 20 years at Petaluma High School in Petaluma, California. A James Madison Fellow and longtime AP teacher, Jackson teaches hundreds of students each year in courses ranging from U.S. and World History to economics and government.

Jackson emphasizes the importance of connecting founding principles to students’ lived experiences. He guides his students through close readings of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and primary sources to ground their opinions in documents rather than trends. “By understanding our founding documents, students are better equipped to see both constitutional and political issues that arise in current events,” Jackson says.

He is also committed to fostering civil dialogue in a politically diverse community. “My students know that they can have just about any opinion, but they must ground it in fact and actively listen to each other,” Jackson explains. Beyond the classroom, Jackson encourages students to take civic action locally, whether through service projects or advocating at city council meetings.

Jackson and his wife, who also teaches at Petaluma High School, are deeply embedded in the community, and he relishes the role of what he calls a “small-town local celebrity.” He adds, “It’s wonderful to go downtown and hear from parents and students who value what we’re doing in the classroom.”