Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School teacher chosen for professional honor

Joplin, MO – Jessi Vacca, a Studio Art teacher at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School, has officially been selected as one of only 28 nationwide for the Lowell Milken Family Foundation’s (LMFF) 2025-2026 cohort of ARTEFFECT Ambassadors.

Vacca, the only Ambassador from the state of Missouri, will have the opportunity to participate in a series of online professional development sessions with a focus on “Unsung Heroes.” The fellowship will culminate with the development of a learner-centered, visual-arts-based capstone project. Ambassadors also receive an unrestricted stipend of $1,250 and a $250 materials credit.

For more information regarding the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes ARTEFFECT Ambassador program, including the full list of Ambassadors from the 2025-2026 cohort, you can access the official press release here: ARTEFFECT Website

Jessi Vacca Vacca shared, “Being a part of the ARTEFFECT Ambassador program gives me a meaningful chance for creative collaboration with peers across the nation. I look forward to discussing the intersections of art and social–emotional learning with other passionate educators.

“I’m excited to work together and be inspired by colleagues who bring awareness to the role art can play in all aspects of learning, while also emphasizing the nuances of what it means to be a hero—both on small and large scales—in students’ lives.”