Beloved Cary-Grove Teacher Inspires New Book
Kera Sanchez used the grief of her mother’s unexpected death to share valuable lessons insights through new book, “Legacy Letters,” launching April 11.
Daughter of “Mrs. J” – beloved Cary-Grove teacher – continues mom’s legacy with new book.
Laura Jean (McTague) Jacobson earned a coveted spot on many Cary-Grove High School students’ schedules for years. Students expected to be on a waitlist to take foods; child development; or fashion with who they lovingly dubbed “J.” It was always worth the wait.
In addition to being the family and consumer science teacher, Laura spent countless hours backstage, costuming the award-winning musicals. She was the smiling face that Trojan fans would greet upon arrival at home football and basketball games. She was an advocate of all things blue and white. “J” was a bit of a legend to say the least.
Those things quickly changed in June 2022 when Laura unexpectedly passed away in Italy while on vacation with friends. A special mentor was suddenly gone.
Keeping Her Spirit Alive
Students, colleagues and friends have all outpoured a great love for Mrs. J, and the impact she had on them at CGHS. Thankfully, her legacy will live on with a special tribute: a book penned by another super fan, daughter Kera (Jacobson) Sanchez.
Kera, a Crystal Lake native, has followed in her mom’s footsteps as a teacher at Round Lake High School. Since the loss of her mother, she has taken the lessons from her grief and void and catapulted that love into a new guided journal, “Legacy Letters,” with the goal of helping many families in the future.
The book will be released on April 11, 2023 on Amazon, “as a way to ensure our love, support, advice and encouragement are written down somewhere safe, for generations to come,” Kera explained.
“I know what I crave to hear from my mom, so I created the journal,” Kera added. “While it's too late for my mom to fill these pages, it's not too late for me to leave Legacy Letters to my own. And for you to leave yours.”
The journal provides a space to leave information about the user and the life they lived, advice, support, love and permission to move forward with life. It also provides great conversation starters, so that the user can actually talk openly with loved ones during the living years instead of waiting for them to find it later.
Just over 100 pages, “Legacy Letters” covers a variety of topics and themes and will be available in both hard and soft covers. A Spanish version will follow this fall.