Jessica has been an independent school educator for 15 years, as an English teacher, department chair, and class dean. Before discovering the wonderful world of independent schools, she taught at the University of Southern California and Georgia State University. She has a B.A. in English from Kennesaw State University, M.A.s in English from Georgia State University and the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D in English, also from the University of Southern California. She loves, loves, loves to read; her other favorite things are hanging out at the beach with her family and snuggling with her two giant dogs; and her heroes are Sandra Cisneros and her amazing son.