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 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, a home visitor for new families, and a housing manager at Washington County. When her own children entered school, initially at a local cooperative preschool and then at Swallowtail, she felt a growing clarity of purpose, a desire to support the families in our communities through an education that truly allows children to realize their full potential.