During the commemoration at Jordan Park ’25, Alexandra Pacheco Garcia, the Photography I instructor, shared about her significant connection with Jordan.

Greetings, I go by the name Alexandra Pacheco Garcia. A lot of you know me as Ms. PG. I hold the position of Photography I teacher at Jordan’s.

For those who may not have known, Jordan was a part of the class I had and the student I would like to share a bit about. Jordan was a highly skilled photographer and a promising young artist.

Everyone is connected in this magical chemistry class, where singular experiences are had. I know what I’m talking about, and you know it too. There is a reason for the intimate bond among the small group of wonderful and unique students that make up this class. Beyond the classroom, there are many pursuits and interests that the students in this group, who are like different kinds of kids in a Venn diagram, do not overlap. Class 5 Block Jordan’s is truly special.

Jordan was our favorite, she is here, but our favorite teachers are acting as. I hustled around the classroom, prepping the space as I chatted with friends. Before the first block, I would sit and work with her, sometimes coming to school early. She would spend after-school hours in the lab with Chris and Andrea, editing her photos and blasting music. She loved our class and it meant a lot to her. Jordan loved photography. She was a big part of the magic.

Jordan was an exceptional leader, with a clear vision and direction for the board. I felt supported by her creative impulses and capable guidance. She was not only a problem solver, but also a true creative genius. However, sometimes she would overthink things. When given any project, she would come up with ten different ideas. She had a deep understanding of light and shadow, making her skilled at capturing various types of pictures. She was particularly attracted to architectural images taken during the golden hour. She had folders on her phone filled with different styles and artists that she admired and wanted to emulate. Jordan had immense talent and was dedicated and inspired. She always took our creative prompts seriously.

As a teacher, there is nothing more fulfilling than having a student who loves the thing you love. I never thought I would be moved and pleasantly surprised by the pictures she made. Especially with Jordan, their engagement often energizes you and makes you see a little bit of yourself in their curiosity and passion.

She was a perceptive and quiet observer of the world around her. Artmaking is useful in that it allows for a bit of distance between the world and oneself. The camera and photography are great things for a sensitive soul, as they provide a way to mediate and process what’s around us. Through Jordan’s lens, everyday moments like the lonely man sitting alone at the back of an empty diner, examining his nails and holding his phone to his ear, become candid and introspective poetic images. The red neon sign hanging behind him fills the scene with a slightly melancholy and warm light, caught in deep conversation illuminated by the fluorescent street lamp above. The small rectangular frame, like a glowing window, fills the side of an apartment building at night, acting as portals to glimpses of stories, families, and people. It’s frustrating that the photograph only gives us so much information about any given thing, but that’s the nature of the unknowable image left beyond the lot.

Jordan and I had a tough day that day, and I caught up with her email later. She didn’t mention anything about the experience we shared, so I didn’t know what she was talking about. After school, we all sat inside Jordan’s classroom and started a meditation exercise in the dark. As we opened our eyes, we could see the landscape outside projected on the ceiling and walls, creating a buzzing and surreal atmosphere. The afternoon sky was filled with spectacular clouds, making it a perfect start to our photography class. I decided to do an activity with my students in the fall, where we would turn an old 100-year-old Rugby tower into a giant pinhole camera, just like the obscura camera we used that day.

I hope you have a lovely weekend. Thank you for being my PG Ms. Teacher. I just wanted to express my gratitude and let you know how much your class means to me. But that’s not all. I felt incredibly comforted and healed by the class, and it made me want to cry because I was so grateful for how well the day had been going for me earlier. There’s something about being in the class, whether it’s the therapeutic aspect of it, the actual act of photographing, or the chemistry with the other students, or maybe it’s the way you teach it. There’s something about the class that feels like a comforting therapy session. I just wanted to say that it’s one of the few things I look forward to in a week.

I am appreciated and respected for my understanding of compassion, self-reflection, and generosity. This young woman, who is 15 years old, tells me what those around me mean to her and I don’t feel like I have enough time to listen. I feel like an adult in that situation. I have never received such a meaningful teaching during my time as a teacher. What a wonderful gift.

Here are a few moments and images in my head. Giggles signify that both of us find something ridiculous. I say it too loudly in the classroom because I mishear what she says. Finally, I see Jordan sitting at her desk, positioned right in front of mine. We are workshopping an idea together. I make a beeline directly to her to get pictures of them and to make friends. And of course, I see Jordan on the basketball court, where a crew of motorcycle inexplicably rolls up. During our trip to Venice Beach, I see Jordan. I think about these details and feel tenderly towards her – her braces, her perpetually banged face, her bangs. I see Jordan sitting on the center stool at our worktable, mouthing words and bopping along to her favorite pop songs. I see her bright smile as I see her at the beginning of the year. I capture the choreography of a light ball motion perfectly. After many failed attempts, they shout in unison, “OOOOOOO!” I can hear them laughing and shrieking as Kathy breaks the impossible. Kathy tries to bend back in a way that seems impossible, and I can hear her laughter and shrieks. Diana, Liv, and Katherine are also trying to bend back below, while Jordan is crouched. During our workshop at Plaza FH, I see Kathy, Diana, Liv, and Katherine with Jordan. I’m trying to get the best angle while Jordan is crouched below, trying to bend back. During our Plaza FH workshop, I see Kathy, Diana, Liv, and Katherine with Jordan. In my head, there are a few moments and images.

These are some instances of complete happiness, goofiness, and art creation that will remain in my memory forever.

Thank you, Jordan, for all