BA, History, Reed College
MEd, Educational Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Jess can trace her love of learning back to her Montessori K-8 education in Minneapolis, Minn. Outside of classroom skills, she gained the value of creativity, how to be independent and embrace your weirdness and an appreciation of being outside in nature. "This school made me feel like I was just reading for fun and all math problems were exciting puzzles."

Now as a math teacher herself, she sees it as a way of understanding the world and solving real-life problems. She enjoys the challenge of "undoing" the belief that math is just a set of abstract rules to memorize and follow, with no connection to daily life. 

On a weekend, you can usually find Jess biking on a dirt trail somewhere or setting up my tent for the night. If given the chance to travel farther, she's snowboarding or spending time with family in Chicago or Minneapolis. Occasionally, she relaxes by reading, solving or writing crossword puzzles, and spending time with her houseplants.