Students at Del Campo High School had a sweetheart of a Valentine's Day when Sacramento Kings guard Bobby Jackson visited them February 14. Jackson made an appearance at the campus to honor Del Campo High School instructor Jim Jordan, Sacramento County Teacher of the Year 2003 and Alternate California State Teacher of the Year 2003.
Jordan, also named as one of San Juan Unified School District's Teachers of the Year 2003, introduced Jackson and informed him that he was about to be the subject of a student-conducted news conference. Jackson answered all the students' inquiries, including the big question on everyone's mind: would the six-foot-one-inch-tall guard, recovering from injury, play in that night's game against the Seattle SuperSonics? (He did, and the Sacramento Kings beat the Sonics 110-81.) When asked about his role models, Jackson said that his late mother served as an inspiration to him. "She wanted me to achieve, to be successful in life," he said. He told the students it is necessary to have "dedication to whatever is important to you."
Jackson praised Jim Jordan for his commitment to education and reminded students how important it is to have a caring adult in their lives. He said to the students, "You have a great teacher, and that makes all the difference." Jackson thanked Kings Teacher Appreciation Program partners NECA-IBEW (National Electrical Contractors Association & the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and Health Net for supporting the program. He then presented Jim Jordan with an autographed basketball and signed autographs for the students (two of whom gave Jackson a home-baked cake).
Sacramento County's other Teacher of the Year 2003, Virginia Avila of Grant Joint Union High School District, was visited by Bobby Jackson in December.
For 14 years, the Sacramento Kings have helped recognize district and county Teachers of the Year. District and County Teachers of the Year 2003 in Sacramento County were honored during halftime at the Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz NBA game at ARCO Arena on January 28 and at a countywide awards banquet presented in September 2002 by the Sacramento County Office of Education.