Jessica was born and raised in the farmland south of Hillsboro. Along with her brothers, she spent her childhood outdoors, free to discover the world by exploring the woods and fields as far as her horse could carry her. She completed a Bachelor’s of Arts at Kenyon College, in both Psychology/Child Development and Spanish Cultural Studies. After graduating, she lived with her husband in Mexico to increase her fluency in Spanish and learn more about the culture and traditions of the area. Her passion for serving children and families, as well as striving for a more equitable and inclusive world, led her to  work as a Head Start preschool teacher and a home visitor for new families. 

She has filled a number of roles in the Swallowtail community since her family joined the school in 2013, including Family Association Representative, Board Member, Enrollment Coordinator, and School Director. After 4 years of stewarding the school as the Director, she felt called to return to her true passion of teaching. Jessica completed a 3-year program in Waldorf school administration with Sound Circle Center while serving as Director and she will begin her Grades Teacher training with Sound Circle in the summer of 2025. She feels blessed to be able to continue serving families through an education that truly allows children to realize their full potential.

In her time away from school, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, who have all attended Swallowtail School since Kindergarten. She finds joy in cooking and baking, artistic work, gardening, walking in the woods, and watching the waves roll in at the Oregon Coast.