Jacquelyn Kay is known across Mizzou for her adventuring spirit, love of world languages, and commitment to excellence. Recently, Kay’s colleagues at Mizzou Academy celebrated her 20 years of service to Mizzou.

A Background in World Languages

Some members of the Mizzou community may recognize Kay for her many years as a Spanish instructor with the university. She also has led numerous study abroad programs to Latin America. In 2006, she was recognized for her dedication to teaching with the Mizzou’s Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award. 

Kay holds a BA in English and Spanish from Missouri State University and a M.A.L.T. in Spanish (emphasis on language teaching) and a MEd. in Educational Technology from the University of Missouri. She is also certified in Cognitive Coaching. 

Connection, Mentorship, and Opportunities

Angie Hammons, Mizzou Academy’s Director of Curriculum and IT, has known Kay for much of her tenure with the university system. In fact, Kay was an early mentor to Hammons, who fondly remembers “first meeting Jacquelyn “when she was working for ET@Mo part time and teaching for the College of Arts and Sciences. I was looking for understanding about what my new job was all about and what I was actually supposed to be doing every day. Jackie spent time answering my questions and pointing me in the right direction.” 

Nearly 15 years later, Hammons got to reach out and welcome Kay to her technology and curriculum team at Mizzou Academy. “When we were first hiring for the instructional designer position for our CoTeach program, I was so excited that Jackie was interested in joining our team. She has a calm patience and a way of taking a project apart to make it all easier to find workable solutions. Jackie puts in so many hours that no one sees because she cares about our programs.” 

The Co-Teach Program

In 2019 Kay joined Mizzou Academy. Kay’s first project with Mizzou Academy was supporting instructors in redeveloping the co-teach program for international middle and high school students. It was a tremendous task for a single instructional designer. At the anniversary celebration, the administrative team all remarked that Jacquelyn Kay was not only the right person for the task, she might be the only person who could balance development across 20+ courses simultaneously. 

The co-teach program is used by thousands of students in Brazil. Therefore, Kay began studying Portuguese to better connect with the culture and people involved in this program. During her tenure, the co-teach program has also expanded to school partnerships in Spain and Vietnam. 

Excellence in Project Management 

At the team celebration, Mizzou Academy executive director Kathryn Fishman-Weaver called up each of the milestone anniversary recipients to be recognized. She saved Kay, who was celebrating the longest tenure with the university, for last. Fishman-Weaver shared that when Mizzou Academy took on another large-scale project, this time with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), that she “knew right away this was another project that needed Jacquelyn’s organization, leadership, and smarts. She was one of the first people I spoke with about what this project would mean for Mizzou Academy.” In addition to her regular instructor designer duties, Kay is spending this year project managing the DESE project. 

After Hammons and Fishman-Weaver shared about Kay’s many accomplishments, Kay addressed this room. “This is such an honor. I am thankful to work with all of you. I am also thankful to be here. Mizzou Academy is a special place. Don’t forget that. What we do here and the positive culture we enjoy is truly unique. Thank you all.”

This is not the first time the team wanted to pause and recognize Kay’s commitment for excellence. In 2021 Kay was awarded the Porter Graham Staff Excellence Award for her above- and-beyond work with Mizzou Academy. 

Thank you, Jacquelyn Kay, for all you do for Mizzou! We are proud to celebrate your 20 years of service with the University of Missouri and look forward to  many more projects together!