Faculty Feature | Jason Ford

Name: Jason Ford
Current role & department: Lower School - Grade 1 Teacher, Enrichment Coordinator
Year you started at Albany Academy: 2022
Alma mater and degree: BA from SUNY Albany
 

What inspired you to become a teacher?

"Honestly, becoming a teacher was a happy accident. When I was younger, I dreamed of being an actor on Broadway. I grew up doing musical theater, which eventually led me to start my own local theater company, Debuts Theater. While running the theater, one of the parents pulled me aside and said, 'You’re amazing with kids, have you ever thought about teaching?' She encouraged me to apply to the pre-school she owned, and I decided to give it a try. The rest is history. Once I was in the classroom full-time, helping little learners discover reading and writing, navigate feelings, and build friendships…I knew I had found my true calling. Teaching connected everything I loved: creativity, storytelling, and helping children grow into confident, kind humans."

Is there a particular lesson or project that you especially love to teach? What makes it meaningful for you and your students?

"I wouldn’t say there’s one particular lesson — but I always make it a priority to teach in fun, memorable, and creative ways. There isn’t a costume I won’t wear or a national holiday I won’t celebrate if it means bringing joy and excitement into learning.

One of my favorite traditions is celebrating National Talk Like a Pirate Day during the first few weeks of school. On that day, I incorporate pirates into all of our lessons, we decorate treasure boxes, dress up like pirates, and end the day with a full treasure hunt! The students absolutely love it. My favorite part is walking past older students in the hall and hearing them say, 'Hey, I remember when we had Pirate Day!' It’s incredibly validating to know I’m creating lasting, happy memories."

Favorite book or movie?

"One of my all-time favorite movies is Serendipity. I’ve always loved the idea that the universe has a funny way of bringing people and moments together at exactly the right time. It’s a hopeful, feel-good story that reminds me to stay open to possibility, trust the process, and appreciate the unexpected twists that life brings."

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing?

"If I weren’t a teacher, I think most people would tell you I’d be a baker. I love spending my spare time experimenting in the kitchen and coming up with new cupcake flavors, creating fun cereal bar treats, and baking for friends and family. There’s something so special about making people feel cared for with something homemade. If I ever stepped away from teaching, I’d definitely be running a cozy coffee shop: delicious coffee, amazing desserts, and a space where people feel welcome. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories, so combining that with baking would be a dream come true."

What’s something you’re especially proud of in your career? 

"One of the accomplishments I’m especially proud of here at Albany Academy is having the privilege to serve as a guest director for the Upper School musical during my second year at Academy. It was incredibly rewarding to bring my theater background to the high school level and collaborate with our older students on a production of The Drowsy Chaperone. We had an absolute blast putting the show together, and the students’ dedication and talent truly shined. The experience became even more special when we learned that our production had been nominated for several categories in the High School Musical Theatre Awards at Proctors, including Best Musical! Watching our students perform a number from the show on the Proctors stage was a moment of immense pride for all of us. It was a beautiful celebration of their hard work, creativity, and passion, and I felt honored to be part of it alongside my colleagues."

Anything else you'd like to share? 

"Honestly, I’m just a speck of dust on this spinning rock orbiting through space for a brief moment of time. My hope is simply to leave this world a little better than I found it. Helping young scholars discover the best versions of themselves is my way of doing that. If I can empower them to believe they can change the world, if they just try, then I feel like I’m doing something that matters."