admin
Article originally appeared in the Courier-Tribune on December 13, 2018.
LIBERTY – Announced via social media, the Liberty North High School career of Principal Dr. Marty Jacobs will come to an end with the graduating class of 2019.
After being the first principal of Liberty North High School and after 44 years in education, 33 in Liberty Public Schools, Jacobs said he has other interests he would like to pursue, and that after serving many years as a teacher and a principal in public education, he is ready to start his next chapter.
Jacobs’ impact as an educator has reached thousands of people. Upon learning of his upcoming retirement, an outpouring of fond memories and congratulations from nearly 200 students, parents and colleagues, filled the comments of a Dec. 5 Liberty Public Schools’ Facebook post about his upcoming retirement.
“Dr. Jacobs has served as the principal of Liberty North High School since the school opened in August 2010. Prior to that, he was the principal at Liberty High School, beginning back in 1985,” the district’s post states. “All of us at Liberty Public Schools thank Dr. Jacobs for his service to not only LPS, but to public education.”
“Go DJ, that’s my DJ! Go DJ, that’s my DJ!! That song stuck through my high school years because you were the best principal ever, and many of us, your students, referred to you as our DJ back in the day! Thank you for your passion and support to all of your staff and students. You are the (greatest of all time) of Liberty Public Schools! LPS is going to miss you tons! Congratulations and happy retirement,” Erika Paredes commented on the post.
A colleague and mother of LPS students, Kim Scholes expressed gratitude for getting to work with Jacobs.
“Enjoy your retirement! Thank you for being part of my children’s lives. Thank you for being a great role model as an educator. I have enjoyed working with you at (Liberty High School) and LNHS,” she commented on the district Facebook post.
Tim Block, who was hired by Jacobs, said the principal was the best he’d ever worked for in his 39-year teaching career.
“Empathy is his theme, professionalism is his modus operandi. Thank you, Dr. J, for hiring me in the twilight of my career,” Block said.
When asked to reflect on his time in the school district, Jacobs said there were so many things about his job that he enjoys.
“The most important thing to say as to my favorite job responsibility is seeing and knowing that programs our very talented educators implement reach students and help them find abilities and talents they didn’t know they had, and grow in their skills and confidence,” he said.
Not only was Jacobs an educator, he was also a parent of children in the district, calling Liberty home for many years.
“This is a wonderful community with people who care about working toward and making sure a good quality of life exists for everyone,” he said of the community.
Students, faculty and others in the community refer to Jacobs as a legend, saying he will be missed and leaves behind a legacy of leadership, dedication and passion for all things Liberty Public Schools.
“He was so involved in his community. I’ll never forget when my friend died in (high school). When I walked to view the body at the funeral, he was right there in the back, paying his condolences. He was involved in all his students’ lives. Nights of our football games, he always was there when coming back to the sideline,” said former student Myron Powell. “… Thanks Dr. J.”
Retirement recognition
The Liberty school district will recognize Jacobs during its retiring staff reception in May of 2019.
