Home - Jan 2023
Ms. Manjola Koci
Ms. Manjola Koci grew up in Communist Albania and moved to the United States when she was sixteen. She then studied music at the undergraduate and graduate level. Now a beloved veteran teacher, Ms. Koci is the Dean of Faculty at JHCA and teaches elementary music, as well as 8th Grade Medieval History.
Ms. Manjola Koci grew up in Communist Albania and moved to the United States when she was sixteen. She then studied music at the undergraduate and graduate level. Now a beloved veteran teacher, Miss Koci is the Dean of Faculty at JHCA and teaches elementary music, as well as 8th Grade Medieval History.
Thinking back on her own childhood, Ms. Koci credits her passion for Classical Education to her parents, who were both doctors and had a large collection of books. They encouraged her to play music and read books. Now that she has the opportunity, Miss Koci fully pursues this love of the liberal arts.
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Thinking back on her own childhood, Ms. Koci credits her passion for Classical Education to her parents, who were both doctors and had a large collection of books. They encouraged her to play music and read books. Now that she has the opportunity, Miss Koci fully pursues this love of the liberal arts.
She says, “I am thirsty to read. I’m a life-long learner. There is an infinite amount to learn from Western culture.” Currently Ms. Koci is reading a history of the First Crusade, American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, and the play Fences by August Wilson. She reads a wide variety of history and fiction to feed her perpetual desire to grow in new disciplines and ways.
Ms. Koci holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Anna Maria College in Massachusetts and a graduate degree in Musicology from the New England Conservatory of Music. She joined JHCA after teaching music for nine years at Great Hearts Academies in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, she served as a Music Curriculum Advisor for Great Hearts Academies.
Music is more than just an academic discipline for Miss Koci; it is a way of understanding human emotion and the world around her. She sees music as philosophy expressed through an ethereal and beautiful medium. Miss Koci’s favorite composer is Beethoven.
“Beethoven took music to an absolutely new level,” she says. “He broke the rules in order to free music from the constraints of his time and truly connected music and philosophy. Listen to his Concerto in E-flat major No. 5 and you will understand why Beethoven is so great!” Ms. Koci’s music interests also include Renaissance madrigals, Baroque violin concertos, Classical piano concertos, and Romantic lieder.
Ms. Koci enthusiastically supports the mission of JHCA. “We represent a culture, and our task is to pass on the wisdom of the Western Tradition to our students,” she articulated. “We all, as students and teachers, are challenged to fully understand and embrace truth goodness and beauty. We have a high view of humanity.”
Besides teaching, Ms. Koci enjoys the meaningful interactions throughout the day with the student and faculty members. She especially enjoys lunch conversations with students, saying, “It’s nice to hear their perspectives on what’s happening in class and outside of school.” Similarly, she loves seeing the students’ happy faces at drop-off and their excitement upon seeing parents at pick-up. Miss Koci also appreciates the support and engagement that comes from the other faculty.
For the past two years, Ms. Koci has developed the 8thGrade Medieval History class at JHCA. “I’ve found Medieval History challenging and exciting,” she says. “Events are multi-layered. The students get to explore deep questions and content. For instance, they are currently learning about the rise of nation state and considering the roots of national sovereignty.”
Ms. Koci enjoys the beauty and quiet of living in Jackson. “I love going for walks and hikes,” she says. “It is incredible to see the beautiful nature here and enjoy the wonderful views God has given us.”
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Physical Address:
2500 S. Park Loop Rd.
Jackson, WY 83001
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P.O. Box 7466
Jackson, WY 83002
2500 S. Park Loop Rd.
Jackson, WY 83001
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7466
Jackson, WY 83002
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(307) 201-5040
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