We all know English teacher Mrs. Hackett. But what do you really know about her? Well, outside of school, she is known as Jill, even Melody (Hackett’s birth name). And there’s so much more to this incredible woman beyond what she does here as an English/Performance English teacher and the director of the bi-annual productions at HHS.
First the basics: Hackett was born in Bellville, Michigan. She studied at Cederville College, outside of Detroit, Michigan. She married Jeff Hackett in 1983. The two honeymooned in NYC; one night they dined at the World Trade Center and planned to celebrate their 20th Anniversary there too, but little did they know that two years short of that anniversary those towers would be destroyed. After their honeymoon, the Hacketts moved to Florida and Mrs. Hackett taught at private schools in Panama City. Two years later, they moved to New Jersey to be closer to family and because Hackett, being the actress that she is, loved to have NYC “in her backyard.”
While living in Hawthorne, Hackett taught a private high school in Clifton. Two years later, the Hackett’s moved to Fair Lawn and Hackett worked as a Senior Assistant Executive to the fashion designer Liz Claiborne. After she was finished with that job Hackett started her family and was a stay at home mom for 13 years to her four children: Lauren, Melissa, Philip and James. Her son, James, was diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, so money was tight. During that time, she decided that she needed to help support her family, Hackett opened up her own day care where, aside from her own children, she raised 12 others.
“The day care really helped me understand the dynamic of family life along with a better understanding of kids,” Hackett said.
After the six years of having her day care center, Hackett realized that she needed to go back to her real calling, teaching. She became an English teacher at Hawthorne Christian Academy. One day, her husband told her about a teaching position opening at Hawthorne High School. Hackett did not really want to leave HCA because, “I knew everyone and the kids were great.” But, a public school job offered better benefits and a pension so, Hackett sent in her resume and got the job soon after.
Hackett’s first year was the same year Alyssa Schlossberg, another English teacher, was pregnant with her twins. Since Schlossberg had to stay home on an emergency maternity leave, Hackett took over the HHS Drama Club. That year, Hackett was given the opportunity to run HHS’s production since she had a background in acting. Later that year, HHS performed Our Town, starring HHS alumni and current paraprofessional Kimberly Griffin.
Hackett currently resides in Ringwood and is in her ninth year at HHS. She is still in charge of the Drama Club and still directs HHS’s, now bi-annual, productions. We all know that we can expect more wonderful things from this top-rate teacher.