A parent of two young adults Jessica brings more than 20 years of experience helping students with diverse learning needs access the support they need to thrive.

Throughout her career, she has worked across a wide range of educational settings, including residential treatment centers, charter and traditional public schools, higher education, and virtual education.

She has served as a teacher, case manager, reading specialist, testing coordinator, program coordinator, curriculum specialist, and curriculum writer. This breadth of experience has given her a unique perspective on how educational systems operate and, just as importantly, how those systems are experienced by students and families.

Jessica's work has focused extensively on special education, inclusive practices, literacy intervention, transition planning, MTSS, accessibility, and the coordination of services across schools and community systems.

Jessica earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University, where her research examined the relationship between transition planning and postsecondary inclusion. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Rice University, expanding her expertise in strategy, organizational leadership, and building sustainable systems for impact.

At Roots to Rise, Jessica brings together two decades of educational experience, research, systems thinking, and advocacy to make complex systems more understandable and actionable for families. Her goal is not simply to help families navigate the next meeting or decision, but to help them see the larger picture and build a path forward with greater clarity and confidence.