Stephan (Steve) Lawrence Jackson peacefully passed at home with family on the morning of July 25, 2018 at age 71. Steve was born in San Antonio, Texas on the 23rd of January 1947 to Horace and Theresa Jackson.
Steve was the founder and executive director of Stephan L. Jackson and Associates (SLJA), an educational consulting organization specializing in Montessori and bilingual education. After graduating from Edison High School in 1965 in San Antonio, he went on to receive his bachelor's, and ultimately a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Texas at Austin in the area of Early Childhood Education in 1980. He also attended a Montessori training course in Mexico City and received a Montessori Certificate from the Montessori Association International in 1973.
Dr. Jackson provided expert witness testimony in U.S. v Texas (1981) with Judge Justice presiding on this important bilingual education case. He was influential in language proficiency assessment for English Language Learners, nationally and regionally. He presented at numerous educational conferences, published papers and reports in the areas of language assessment, bilingual education program development, as well as provided technical assistance and training for evaluation, testing, and educational methodology. In 1998, the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) honored him for his contributions to bilingual education.
Steve was an avid gardener and fisherman, and enjoyed spending time in his backyard and the Texas gulf coast. He will be remembered for his generous spirit and life-long curiosity, and his determination to leave the world better than he found it.
Steve is survived by his wife, Linda, sons Daniel and Christopher, Christopher's wife Chella, and granddaughter Lea. Also, he is survived by siblings, brother, Michael Jackson, sisters, Minka Cooper, Carolyn Gleason and Deborah Linebarger. He is preceded in death by brother, James R. Jackson.
We would like to express great appreciation to our extended family: Alice and Russell Oldmixon (sister-in-law and brother-in-law), Bill Rodney and Olivia Valdespino (nephew and spouse), Priya, Yenara, and Lysander (their children). Michael Rodney and Steven Dunbar-Rodney (nephew and spouse). Their support is and was invaluable.
A celebration of Steve's life will be held at Roy Akers on N. Main Avenue at 11:30 AM on Saturday, July 28th. Donations may be made in his honor to www.RAICEStexas.org/donate/ (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services).
