Jen Roderick began her teaching journey in the mountains of Durango, Colorado, and later in Silverton, where she taught at an expeditionary learning school that sparked her passion for hands-on, place-based education. From there, she helped start and lead a similar school in Prescott, Arizona, before stepping out of the classroom to work as a consultant and curriculum designer. In that role, she collaborated with Indigenous Nations and nonprofits across Northern New Mexico, supporting culturally responsive teaching, curriculum development, and youth media education and production. Jen calls the Yampa Valley home and upon her return to the valley with her young family, she excitedly became a member of the Steamboat Mountain School learning community. Jennifer currently teaches 7th and 8th grade humanities. She brings her love of understanding diverse perspectives to the classroom where she focuses on critical thinking, global citizenship, and cultural awareness through literature and inquiry. With over 20 years of experience, she’s dedicated to creating inclusive, engaging learning environments that inspire students to explore the world and their place in it. In her free time Jen loves to spend time with her husband and three daughters traveling the world, exploring and rafting remote rivers and canyons, ducking through trees on the snowy slopes, hiking and biking in our beautiful Yampa Valley, and camping under the stars.

She earned her B.A. in Art History with a minor in Education from UC Santa Barbara in 1997, and an M.A. in Educational Technology and Leadership from Pepperdine University in 2005.