central part of his life. Watching them mature into adults, overcome challenges, and carve out their own paths has been one of his greatest sources of pride. One daughter in particular has inspired him through her resilience. Diagnosed with learning disabilities and dyslexia, she was often misunderstood in school, with teachers mislabeling her as “lazy.” As educators themselves, Jeff and his wife fought tirelessly to prove otherwise, advocating for her needs and working to change how their Catholic school approached special education. Those early battles contributed to the creation of new programs that continue to support students with special needs today. In fact, his daughter now works at the same high school in a program designed specifically for students like her, while another daughter serves as an intervention specialist. Their journey, once filled with obstacles, has become a legacy of advocacy and impact.
A Career in Education
Before he ventured into real estate, Jeff built a meaningful career in education. After earning his degree in sociology, he returned to school to pursue a teaching license, ultimately finding his way into the classroom as a middle school reading and language arts teacher in Columbus City Schools. Teaching middle schoolers is not for the faint of heart. As Jeff explains, seventh graders in particular are at one of the most difficult and transformative stages of life. They’re trying to figure out who they are, often changing from day to day. One week they embrace one identity; the next week, they reinvent themselves entirely. For Jeff, this was both the challenge and the reward. Watching students grow from sixth to eighth grade, and then beyond into high school and adulthood, was deeply
Powered by FlippingBook