JACK JAGODZINSKI, 28 / History Teacher, William Fleming High School (Roanoke City Public Schools)
Jack Jagodzinski moved to Roanoke in 2012, teaching first at Lucy Addison Middle School for six years before moving to William Fleming. He earned his master’s from Virginia Tech in Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Design and Technology; he is currently working on his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Curriculum and Instruction, Social Studies. While at LAMS, he was the department chair for three years, as well as the girls’ volleyball coach. He hosted charity tournaments, raising over $2,000, which was used to send about 20 players to a summer volleyball camp at Roanoke College. He is also Vice President of the Roanoke Valley Volleyball Association. “I’ve made lifelong friendships here and always feel like there are new people in Roanoke that I’d love to meet,” he says. “Roanoke has always felt comfortable to me, not overwhelming. Being able to take the lead on projects at work or with the RVVA probably would not have been possible in other cities.”
- Earned master’s degree from Virginia Tech in Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Design and Technology
- Currently working on PhD from VT in Curriculum and Instruction, Social Studies
- Webmaster and Player for the VT Men’s Club Volleyball Team, ranked top 5 in the Nation in the NCVF
- Taught at Lucy Addison Middle for six years, Department chair for three
- LAMS Volleyball coach, hosted charity tournaments raising over $2000, which we used to send about 20 players to summer volleyball camp at Roanoke College
- VP of Roanoke Valley Volleyball Association:
- The area’s only adult volleyball league with about 600 members and three skill levels
- Worked with the city to host our Summer league finals downtown in the Wells Fargo Plaza the past two years
- Hosted multiple RVVA tournaments at the American Legion in Salem for the RVVA
From the Nomination: “Jack ‘Jag’ Jagodzinski hails from Buffalo, NY and first came to Roanoke when he took a job teaching history and coaching volleyball at Lucy Addison Middle School. Jag is very active in the Roanoke Valley Volleyball Association, and was influential in getting an outdoors tournament organized in downtown Roanoke. He is a phenomenal teacher and truly gifted at building relationships with kids, especially inner city, low-income students.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Jagodzinski: “I love the amazing people I’ve gotten to meet through teaching, volleyball and graduate school. In RCPS, there are so many talented and passionate educators that genuinely care about their students and go above and beyond to make a positive difference in their lives.”
How does your passion impact our community?
Jagodzinski: “My most rewarding experience in Roanoke stemmed from moving from the middle school to high school level. It has been incredible to watch students that I taught in 7th and 8th grade walk across the stage to receive their high school diploma. By the time they graduate, they truly feel like my own kids, and I love having connections already formed with their younger siblings that move into my class. I tell my kids that beyond how they do on the SOL, I hope that if we see each other in the grocery store in five years, we can shake hands and reminisce on the good times we had in class.”
