Jordan Price is a familiar presence on the campus of the Presbyterian Home for Children.
Known for his ever-present headphones and tireless work ethic, Jordan is the young man you’ll see mowing the lawn, fixing what’s broken, and lending a hand wherever it’s needed.
Jordan’s journey to the Home began in 2014 when he was in eighth grade and became a student at Ascension Leadership Academy when it was called Hope Academy.
Jordan was struggling in public school to find the support he needed from teachers. At Hope, he thrived in the smaller, more personalized environment.
“The teachers at Hope were always ready to help, no matter what they were doing,” he said. “You didn’t have to wait to get help. That made a huge difference.”
Ascension, when it was Hope, was located on campus, with classes divided into three cottages. Jordan said today’s students who attend classes at the school behind First Presbyterian Talladega have a more centralized experience.
Jordan graduated in 2020 during COVID and even finished a semester early. His favorite subject was English. He’s a self-proclaimed grammar fanatic who loves books and history. But it wasn’t just academics that shaped him. It was people like Director of Education Linda Harris, a constant presence at Ascension.
“Mrs. Linda is like another grandmother to me,” Jordan said. “She helped me grow up and become an adult. I wouldn’t be the same without her.”
It was Harris who encouraged Jordan to apply for a job in maintenance at the Home after graduation. While he had plans to move on, he chose to stay home with his parents and become a “jack of all trades” at his other “home,” PHFC. His main responsibility is lawn care – something he genuinely enjoys. “I love cutting grass,” he says. His least favorite task? Weed eating. “I’d rather change out a toilet than have to weed eat.”
His initiative and dependability haven’t gone unnoticed. Sharon Moore, Vice President of Transitional Housing and Family Services, calls him “invaluable” and the go-to guy when needing help after hours.
Director of Physical Plant Wes Harry believes in his ability and is always looking for opportunities to introduce new skill sets into Jordan’s toolbox.
Jordan’s first paycheck at the Home five years ago went toward that familiar pair of headphones that are his constant companion as he listens to rock, pop, classic rock and right now, his latest favorite artist Casey Lee Williams.
From a student who once struggled in public school to a young man who takes pride in his work and the Home, Jordan Price is a testament to what can happen when someone is given the right support, the right environment, and the right people who believe in them.
“You can’t buy what he brings to the table,” Moore says. “The heart. The desire to do it right.”
