Bridgewater State student, “incredible teacher, colleague, friend, mother, wife” dies suddenly

A Massachusetts teacher who clearly had a tremendous impact on her community while attending Bridgewater State University to expand that impact, has died suddenly.

On Friday, 41-year-old Jennifer Jacobs, a longtime first grade teacher and assistant principal at the Dawe Elementary School and an Extended School Year (ESY) program coordinator, passed away. She had been a teacher in Stoughton since 2006 while living in Abington.

As Dawe Principal Rob Cancellieri wrote in a message to Dawe families, “Mrs. Jacobs was the type of person who made connections with any person she came into contact with and had a passion for helping students find a love of learning in a playful way. When she would walk into a room, her positive and vibrant presence was contagious. Our hearts and thoughts are with the Jacobs family, especially Jenn’s husband and two sons, her colleagues, the Dawe School community, and the ESY community at this unimaginably difficult time.”

According to her obituary, “Jennifer was a phenomenal school leader, role model and mentor to staff, and a safe haven for all children, whose sense of humor motivated them in every way. This was best exemplified yearly when graduating seniors would return to her class for a visit because they knew how proud she would be of their accomplishments. Jennifer was a trusted confidant to many families who often reached out during times of crisis to seek her counsel. She was a bright light, whose legacy will continue to shine through Stoughton Public Schools for years to come. Jennifer was also an epic fashionista, who won best dressed every year for those amazing heels and earrings. She was an aspiring school administrator, who was completing a post graduate program in Educational Leadership at Bridgewater State University.”

A GoFundMe fundraiser to help Jacobs’ husband raise their two children has raised over $52,000 as of this writing.

There will be a community support session this Tuesday, July 18, 2023 from 1:45-3:15pm at the O’Donnell Middle School Learning Commons (211 Cushing St.). This air-conditioned space will be open to all students and families who need a safe and comforting place to process this news. Counselors will be available.

Additionally, the visitation hours/wake is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 2023 from 2-6pm at Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington Street, Hanover, MA. The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 9am at Holy Family Parish, 403 Union Street, Rockland, MA.

All summer enrichment programs are cancelled on Thursday, July 20 to allow staff and members of the community to attend the funeral service. School offices will be closed on Thursday as well. The District Office will remain open. The summer food service program will also be open on Thursday, with regularly scheduled breakfast and lunch service at both the Wilkins Elementary School and the O’Donnell Middle School.

The school system reiterated that Jacobs was an incredible teacher, colleague, friend, mother, wife and someone who will be sorely missed.