At age 11, Jodi's "school" for reading and writing was open for business. She had one student: her little brother. When he succeeded, her imaginative endeavor set the tone for her entire professional future: she was born to teach.
Before joining the ES team, Jodi co-founded a non-profit organization in Philadelphia that benefitted under-served youth. More specifically, the organization offered elementary and middle school students an after-school program which provided both a safe space and additional opportunities to learn. To say her heart is in her work is an understatement.
In all her years as a classroom teacher, she has worked with students who possess a range of abilities and who struggle with learning for a variety of reasons, including emotional disturbances, learning differences, and physical challenges. She establishes a rapport based on trust and respect, then learns the students' interests and priorities to make the information she teaches relatable. Understanding that mental health has become an increasingly important topic, she offers her students mindfulness tactics, patience, and a caring shoulder of support.
Since a strong foundation for learning is critical, Jodi thoroughly enjoys discovering her students' thought processes so that she can present information in a way they will best understand. She believes learning should be fun and appropriately challenging, and inspires her students to find confidence in their own abilities. She feels strongly that everyone should have the opportunity to learn and that each student is capable of finding their own success.
MA Education, BA Communications and Theatre, Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness, Teaching Certification in Special Education