July 5, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Broadcaster Press 9 A Life Celebrated Jacobs’ Mission: ‘To Make The World A Better Place’ BY DAVID LIAS david.lias@plaintalk.net Kathy Crowley fought back tears during a Sunday phone interview when asked about the deep friendship and a ritual that she and Geralyn (Gera) Jacobs shared. The two women, who co-authored books on early childhood education and kindergarten education, would often brainstorm by taking daily walks together. “We knew that the brain functions well when it has fresh air and when the body is moving,” Kathy said, “and so we would go for walks and be inspired by nature to write more and maybe think clearer thoughts while we were writing the books.” Sadly, Kathy, who teaches kindergarten at St. Agnes School in Vermillion, has lost her walking partner. Gera, who taught early childhood education at the University of South Dakota for more than 20 years and was recognized internationally as a leader on the subject, died of cancer Wednesday, June 22, at age 64. Her life was celebrated Monday, June 27, with a visitation beginning at 2 p.m. and a funeral Mass following at 3:30 p.m. in St. Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion. Kathy first met Gera “on the job,” so to speak, in 1988. Gera had been hired to teach kindergarten and preschool at St. Agnes School, after an education career in other states beginning in the early 1970s. “I was her aide at the time, and that’s how we met,” she said. “I applied for the position to be her teacher aide, and had gone in for the interview with her, and I guess I knew immediately there was a connection … I remember saying to her at the end of the interview that even if I didn’t get the position, I’d like to volunteer in her classroom, because I could tell she was so dedicated to young children. “I ended up getting the job, and we were able to work many years together,” Kathy said. “I’ve known her 28 years, but there was such a dedication to the early childhood field, and really a caring for young children. That really impressed me, I guess. I had young children of my own, so that made a difference to me to know there was someone out there who really cared about young children.” Gera eventually left St. Agnes School in 1993 for a new role at the University of South Dakota as an early childhood specialist at the USD Center for Disabilities. She became a professor in the USD School of Education Department of Curriculum & Instruction in 1995. She also taught numerous workshops and led other training while at USD. Gera was past-president and had served in other roles at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It is the largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through age 8. NAEYC has nearly 90,000 members and a national network of more than 300 local, state and regional affiliates. She co-authored three nationally recognized books on how to help children meet standards in developmentally appropriate ways. Gera was chairperson for the South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines Panel, which was responsible for writing South Dakota preschool standards. And she was named a 2008 Champion for Children by South Dakota Voices for Children. Most recently, she worked with schools in Vermillion, Sioux Falls and Beresford, to implement the Sanford Harmony program intended to help students learn to cooperate, communicate and find empathy and common ground. According to her resume, Gera and Kathy co-authored “Reaching Standards and Beyond in Kindergarten: Nurturing children’s sense of wonder and joy in learning” in 2010. This book offers research-based strategies and ideas for addressing content standards in ways that nurture children’s natural love of learning. In 2007, the two women collaborated on the book “Play, projects, and preschool standards: Nurturing children’s sense of wonder and joy in learning.” This book received the 2007 Association for Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award for Teacher Resources and the 2008 Teachers’ Choice Award sponsored by Learning Magazine. Their latest book, published in 2014, is titled “Supporting Students, Meeting Standards: Best Practices for Engaged Learning in First, Second, and Third Grades.” This book includes information, ideas, experiences, and activities that promote positive approaches to learning and foster students’ social and emotional development. This is designed to help students meet standards in English language arts, math, science, and social studies. The book also supports authentic assessment to scaffold student progress and improve instruction. Gera’s resume also lists a third manuscript in preparation, co-authored by her and Kathy, titled “The Primary Teachers Guide to the Common Core - and More!” “Dr. Gera Jacobs was very well known nationally and internationally in the field of early childhood education,” said Donald Easton-Brooks, Ph.D., dean of the USD School of Education. “Not only did Dr. Jacobs put USD and the state of South Dakota on the map in this area, she contributed greatly to the field. Also, Auctions COURTESY PHOTO Gera Jacobs, pictured with her grandson, James Frost, and her granddaughter, Eleanna Frost. Gera was a compassionate soul. Everyone she worked with or interacted with felt her warm presence.” “It was a privilege to serve the University of South Dakota alongside Gera Jacobs,” said Nick Shudak, Ph.D., chair of the curriculum and instruction division. “She loved people as hard as she worked, which was nonstop. She literally worked up until her last days. She was a wonderful mentor and role model. I will forever cherish her.” Gera’s husband, Gerard Jacobs, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at USD and director of the Disaster Mental Health Institute. Her family has kept Gera’s Facebook page active, so that it may serve as a memorial to her and a place for friends, family, and colleagues to share memories and condolences. Gera’s daughter, Meriah Jacobs-Frost, urged people attending her celebration of life service Monday to wear her mother’s favorite color – purple – or their own favorite colors. “In a wish to continue her lifetime commitment to education, Mom has donated her body to science,” Meriah wrote in a Facebook post. “Certainly, when Gera was working with young children herself, she was having an effect on them, and then as she grew in her career, she decided that she could have a positive effect on more young children if she actually worked with the people who would be teaching these children,” Kathy said. “I think that’s part of what caused her to go on to the university level, so that she could reach more children by training teachers to work in developmentally appropriate ways for young children.” At the state level, Kathy said, Gera helped write early learning guidelines for preschool, and was recently in the process of updating those guidelines. “At the national level, she became president of the National BlainesBodyShop@gmail.com Irrigation Sales & Service Spinach (or kale) Stuffed Pork Chops Let The Broadcaster and Plain Talk Make Cash For You! 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Saute until dark green and tender, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste. Gently stuff alternating bits of feta and spinach mixture into the pockets of the pork chops. Salt and pepper each chop. Heat large oven-safe pan on stove with 2 Tbsp oil. Add pork chops and brown on each side. Cover and move pan to oven. Cook until meat thermometer registers 150o. Remove from pan, let sit on plate, lightly tented with foil for 5 minutes before serving, drizzled with pan juices. Or turn pan juices into a gravy. ¼ cup olive oil, plus some for garnish 1 onion, chopped 3-6 garlic cloves (depending on taste), mashed and finely chopped 3 cups peeled, chopped tomatoes with their juice 1 Tbsp brown sugar or molasses 3 slices of good crustless sandwich bread 2 cups chicken (or vegetable) broth – quality matters Salt and pepper Located: Skylon Ballroom - 320 S. 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JENNIFER GOOS - OWNER Amy Schweinle 4 pork chops, trimmed of fat Large bunch of trimmed, washed spinach or kale, sliced in 1-inche pieces 4 oz feta cheese 1 medium onion 2 garlic cloves Red pepper flakes, optional Olive oil Salt and pepper Tomato Soup SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2016 For complete listing & photos visit: www.CHJAUCTIONEERS.COM Terms: Cash or Bankable Check. Not Responsible For Accidents or Theft. AUCTION CONDUCTED BY: CREAMER HEIMES JANSSEN AUCTIONEERS & APPRAISERS L.L.C. RYAN CREAMER 402.254.9753 ALTON HEIMES 402.254.3315 ROGER JANSSEN: 402.388.4409 HOURS: 1205 CARR STREET • VERMILLION • 605.670.0471 Upcoming Auctions ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE: Large Oak Curved China Hutch w/Claw Feet. Large Oak Wooden Bar (H. Enrlich & Sons - Store Fixture Tag). Several Wooden High Back Beds. Great Western Cast Iron Stove. Ice Cream Chairs & Table Base. Matching Upholstered Sofa & Chair. Ornate Brass “National” Cash Register # 216 - Nice Small Size in Excellent Condition. 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AUCTION Starts @ 10:00 AM Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She always had this concern for children everywhere,” Kathy said. “She had gone to China to speak to talk to the people there about what was important for young children. “She just always cared about those early years that are so important for children – those formative years,” she said. “I once observed her turn around a state legislature committee with a 10 minute presentation on brain research in South Dakota. Stunning,” noted Gwen Simmons, senior director of affiliate and member relations at NAEYC, in a Facebook post. Simmons traveled from Ohio Monday to attend Gera’s celebration of life in Vermillion. “Gera, you have set the bar high for all of us. We will rise to the occasion,” she wrote. Kathy said Gera’s sense of deep compassion and caring wasn’t limited to the children she cared so much about. “She really cared about anyone she came in contact with,” Kathy said. “Students at the university, educators out in the field – she just truly had a deep concern for all people that she met. That’s why she made such a big impression on people. You could have met her only once or twice, and you would have remembered her, and her smile, and her deep caring for everyone she came in contact with.” She remembers Gera’s willingness to help others. “If there was a problem to be solved, she would be ready and willing to work on it, and to be positive that there would be a way to fix it,” Kathy said. “It was her mission to make the world a better place for everyone. She just worked really, really hard at whatever she was asked to do. “She was deeply committed, whether it was working on early learning guidelines, or whether it was working to help her college-aged students become better teachers,” she said. “Before student teachers would go off to their placements, she would meet with them, and would really instill in them the importance of their job and how what they do has an impact on the lives of the children that they teach.” In lieu of flowers, Gera wished for donations be made to one of the following organizations which focus on increasing the quality of life for children and families: NAEYC, 1313 L St. N.W. Suite 500, Washington DC 20005; The Center for Children & Families, 505 Stanford Street, Vermillion, SD 57069; the USD Child Care Center, 414 E Clark St, Vermillion, SD 57069; or Water. org, 117 West 20th Street, Suite 203, Kansas City, MO 64108-1909. Let The Broadcaster & Plainparty Broadcaster and Plain Talk private Talk Make Cash now FREE classified line ads areFor You! for 30 Broadcasterless. If you Talk private than words or & Plain need more party classified line ads worry you still for 30 30 words, don’t are now FREE won’t words or less. If you ad is only $.90 and pay alot. A 31-word need more than 30 words, don’t worry you still won’t pay a lot. the cost only goes up $.50 per word A 31-word ad is only 90¢ and the cost only thereafter. 50¢ per word thereafter. goes up Place your Place your ad by calling the by calling the Broadcaster/Plain Talk office at Broadcaster/Plain Talk office 605.624.4429 or by stopping in at at 605-624-4429 or by stopping 201 W. Cherry Street today! in at 201 W. Cherry Street today! Heat tomatoes in stock pot over medium heat. Saute onion in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic to onions and saute until fragrant; about 30 seconds. Add to tomatoes. Stir in sugar or molasses until dissolved. Use spoon or ladle to mash up the tomatoes. Chop bread into 1-inch pieces. Add to tomato mixture. Cook for about 5 minutes until bread is breaking apart into little pieces. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, allow to cool. Work in batches to move soup to blender. Blend to smooth, drizzle in 1-2Tbsp oil as you go so that soup is creamy and all oil is thoroughly emulsified. Pour through strainer into a large bowl or another stock pan. Move retained solids back to the blender with the next batch. Be cautious because hot liquids can explode through the top of the blender. Return soup to boil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Use up to 1/8 cup brandy to flavor if desired. Drizzle good olive oil over the top and chopped fresh chives when serving. A splash of dried red pepper flakes can also garnish and flavor. I triple the recipe (or more) and then freeze the extra in containers – just enough for a family meal. Just defrost and heat for a homecooked meal in minutes. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in Cook’s Corner please contact micki.schievelbein@yankton.net www.broadcasteronline.com | 605-624-4429 201 W. Cherry Street | Vermillion, SD