Since her arrival at Steamboat Mountain School in 2010, Jen has established herself as a driving force in the lower school, inspiring passion and responsibility in her students. She states, “SMS is a place that stimulates creativity, a place superior in brilliance, a place filled with great emotion.” Always looking for ways to enhance her craft, she enjoys the freedom to create new and highly engaging curricula that integrate language arts, visual art, and the sciences. She adds, “My goal is to foster a warm, positive, and safe learning environment with rich, hands-on lessons and activities.”

Jen earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Illinois University in 1998 and her Master’s in gifted and talented education from Northeastern Illinois University in 2002. Jen has also completed her Orton-Gillingham training, which allows her to successfully personalize and support each student on their academic journey. Over the past few years, she has worked and trained with professionals to hone her skills in creating PBL (Project-Based Learning) units that engage students in studying and researching their passions. These units provide students with choice and voice in their learning while focusing on collaboration and effective communication to increase confidence and foster lifelong learning both in and outside the classroom setting.

Throughout her 25 years of teaching, Jen remains passionate about ensuring that students’ social-emotional well-being, supported by her RULER training through Yale and Mindful Life Training, is equally coupled with academics. It is important to her that students leave her class as well-rounded, good humans.