When Jan Russell Waddell Jr. began his first year of teaching in the fall of 2021, he started as a seventh-grade Social Studies teacher, Track & Field Head Coach, and Football Assistant Coach at Henry F. Moss Middle School, and then he spent every other Saturday teaching scholars with the Jonesville Academy. He did this all while taking graduate school classes to become a licensed teacher, an opportunity made possible with support from the Gamechangers scholarship.
“If I’m able to motivate students to pursue higher education, that’s a win, but the goal is to produce lifelong learners who exceed institutional walls and degrees,” Waddell said.
Waddell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology but found little work in his field. He transitioned through different jobs for 10 years leading up to a factory position. While working at the factory, he began to substitute teach in 2019, which allowed him to work with several schools, including Moss Middle School.
When the factory downsized, Waddell was left with a severance package and important decisions. “I honestly was at a crossroads in my life. Thankfully someone unknown to me recommended me for the Gamechangers Scholarship aimed at recruiting minority teachers, and I began working towards my M.A.T. (Master of Arts in Teaching) just eight days later.”
