Mixing work and home
Many professors at Utah State share a relationship of more than just co-workers. Jann and Freekam King, are not only married, but have both taught in the same department for fourteen years.
In the field of deaf education, Jann and Freeman find themselves working together with everything.
Jann said ever since they have been together, they have talked about deaf education. She said their common interests have really helped their marriage and she thinks it is important to not follow the typical marriage myths.
“Freeman and I have everything in common,” Jann said. “For us it’s a key part of our relationship.”
The Kings teach the same classes, have the same sign language philosophy and teach the same students.
Jann said while she and her husband like to tease students, there is no competition with one another and they learn many things from each other and respect each other professionally.
“I’ve learned a lot of how I teach from him,” Jann said.
Jann and Freeman both have similar stories about being introduced to the deaf community.
Freeman was introduced to sign language while teaching a young boy gymnastics.
He then learned the language just by associating with the adult deaf community and eventually got his master’s in deaf education.
Jann took a sign language class her senior year and then ended up living at the Austin School for the Deaf during her student teaching.
She eventually got her master’s in deaf education as well. Both had no intentions of being involved with the deaf community.
“My whole life changed my senior year,” Jann said. “You never know how the pieces of the puzzle are going to fit together in the end.”
Freeman and Jann met in Texas at Lamar University. Freeman was a supervisor of student teachers and Jann was a student teacher.
They got married on the Southern Mississippi campus in a small chapel and drove straight to Logan afterwards. While Freeman taught at his current position at USU, Jann taught sign language at Preston High School until a position opened at USU. They have been here for 14 years.
The Kings have two daughters that Jann said “practically live at Utah State.”
“They can communicate with the deaf students and know them very well,” Jann said.
Jann said the department really values family and they have become like a big family themselves.
The Kings are very involved with student organizations and Jann said they have students over to their house often.
“Our lives are about the kids or our students,” Jann said. “The students are part of us.”
Jann said that working together does have its challenges. Juggling the kids is one of those things.
Since the Kings have no family here, Jann said their colleagues and neighbors have become family.
Jann said they have had to rely on each other a lot and it has made their marriage stronger.
Jann said a university job has been great for her family.
“If the university really wants someone to come here, I think they realize that they have to help the whole family move,” Jann said.
The Kings have been here for 14 years, and Jann said they will probably always be here.
She said their work is their life and it is woven together with their personal life.
“It’s our whole life,” Jann said. “We can’t beat the jobs that we have here. I wouldn’t give that up for the flexibility and collegiality we have here. You aren’t going to find that in a lot of other places.”
-bmnelson@cc.usu.edu