Jacob Carlson is a 2019-20 Teach Plus Illinois Rural Teacher Leader. Jacob teaches English at Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, Illinois, where he is also an instructional coach for the district. Jacob is a Teach Plus Policy Fellowship alum and joined the Golden Apple Teachers of Distinction in 2019 after becoming a finalist for the Distinguished Educators award. In 2016, he was part of an Illinois Association of State Teachers of the Year (ILSTOY) team whose submission of a state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act was awarded a Top 12 National Finalist designation at the Agents for Learning competition. He is active in professional leadership roles through ILSTOY and the secondary English teacher preparation program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). He graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a BS in English and an MA in English and American Literature.
