Meet Jessica Moose: Midway Hills Academy’s Teacher of the Year

If you’ve ever walked into Jessica Moose’s classroom, you’ve probably heard laughter, seen creativity in motion, and felt her belief in every student like sunlight through the windows.

“Sometimes people say I’m over the top,” Moose laughs, “but I just love what I do. I feed off the kids’ energy.”

That energy has made her one of Midway Hills Academy’s most beloved teachers and now, she's Midway Hills Academy's Teacher of the Year.

From Business to the Classroom

Moose’s journey to teaching wasn’t exactly a straight line. “I actually said I’d never do what my mom did,” she says with a grin. Her mother was a kindergarten teacher, and Moose initially earned a business degree from Brenau University. But after becoming a stay-at-home mom, she began volunteering in her daughter’s classroom and rediscovered her calling.

It was one quiet moment that changed everything. Two young students, twins who spoke Chinese at home, had never spoken aloud in English at school. Moose made it her mission to help them find their voices.

“Around Christmas, they finally whispered to me in English,” she remembers. “I called my mom right away and said, ‘I get it now. I understand what you meant about the reward of teaching.’”

From there, she dove in headfirst, earning her teaching credentials online, teaching multiple grade levels, navigating the pandemic, and even working as a school counselor before finding her home in the classroom once again.

Believing in Students, Until They Believe Too

Moose joined Midway Hills Academy just two years ago, but her impact has already rippled across the school.

“At first, some of my kids didn’t believe me when I said, ‘I love you. I believe in you,’” she recalls. “But I kept saying it and by the end of the year, their growth was incredible. That’s when I knew: this is where I belong.”

Her passion is paired with purpose. She sees teaching as a calling rooted in trust, empathy, and advocacy. “If the kids need something, I fight for it. And here, they get it,” she says. “This is a great place for teachers who want to make a difference.”

Beyond the Lesson Plan

While Moose’s background in business helps her organize and lead teams, she says her degree in school counseling from Fort Valley State University has made the biggest impact.

“It’s the social-emotional part,” she says. “Understanding culture, building trust, helping kids believe they can grow. That’s what makes learning happen.”

A Diamond in the Rough

Having grown up in Baldwin County, moved away, and then returned during the pandemic, Moose has a deep appreciation for what makes her hometown special.

“People have opinions about Baldwin County schools,” she says. “But I tell them: come see what’s happening here. We have parents working multiple jobs who still show up. We have kids who want to break cycles. There’s more good than people realize and we need to give each other grace.”

For Moose, that belief, rooted in community and compassion, is at the heart of teaching.

“We have a diamond in the rough here,” she says. “And I’m proud to be part of polishing it.”

The Heart of a Teacher

Outside of school, Moose stays busy with her two daughters, one in high school and one in middle school, balancing cheer, dance, and horseback riding with time at the lake or traveling as a family.

Still, she admits, “It’s hard to shut my teacher brain off.” And maybe that’s what makes her so exceptional. Because for Jessica Moose, teaching isn’t a only a job. It's who she is.