Jessica Vance (she/her)

Enrichment & Environment Coordinator

Austin, Texas • USA 

How did you get into teaching?

I’ve always known I was going to be a teacher. With only a brief stint of a passion for history and a desire to be a paleontologist, I’ve immersed myself in working with children for as long as I can remember. From babysitting neighbor’s kids - to tutoring and volunteering with AmeriCorps - to learning from the strong mentors I had while first starting out in my career, I’ve continually seen my role as an educator as one that allows me to live out one of my core values: connection. This value continues to drive the work I do in education today and helps me find balance in a field that oftentimes feels just the opposite. 

Who was the teacher who made the most positive impact on your life?

My mentor teacher, Mrs. Kim, has had a pretty prominent role in my values and views as an educator. While completing my teaching certification, I learned so much about the unique dynamics of student/teacher relationships. I loved watching her interact with her students in a way that was genuine and caring, yet light-hearted and honest. She really knew her students well, was thoughtful about how she connected with them, and infused a sense of humor that was uniquely her personality. She intentionally let me fail throughout the semester with her, letting me loose my cool without stepping in until the students had left the classroom. She was intentional about letting me figure things out on my own and made it a safe place to make mistakes while I was still learning my way. 

What is a professional inquiry you are currently pursuing? 

I recently published my first book (Leading With a Lens of Inquiry)! Writing has been a professional focus for over the past year and a half, as you (Kimberly) know, it is quite an experience. It started off as a project with a dear friend and has evolved into a publication that I am so very proud of. And while reflection is something that comes easily for me, the reflection and vulnerability I experienced during the writing process was something quite new that I had not experienced before. Asking for feedback, reaching out to critical friends, and taking risks have all been part of this writing process.

What is a personal inquiry you are currently pursuing?

I’ve been practicing yoga for quite some time but currently have been exploring more traditional teachings including the depth and complexity of the mindfulness practice that it brings. Once we were in lockdown, I started practicing yoga virtually with one of my very favorite teachers and began to read different texts that support the physical practice. I love the work of Michael Stone and although he brings more of a modern approach, he does so in a way that honors the foundation of yoga yet nudges his students to consider their implications in our modern world. I’m currently reading one of his last books very slowly, soaking in all of his beautiful language!

What three best ideas you have to improve the teaching profession?

1) Honoring the agency of all learners

While standards and other curriculum frameworks are essential, they are merely a guide for where we can take our learners, not how to get there. Knowing our learners, listening to their questions and creating intentional space for their voices to actively impact and drive learning is essential. There is a delicate balance that we maintain as our practice matures and we are able to know how much or how little we should step in. This stands true for adult learning too! Honoring learner agency takes a mindful attentiveness that we all need to experience. It means slowing down, listening more closely and doing less. In my leadership role I’m always seeking feedback from all of the learners in our building in order to determine next steps as we collectively work towards our school’s vision, honor the autonomy and independence of my learners and seek ways to empower them and the roles they play. Honoring learner agency doesn’t mean stepping back and just hoping for the best, rather it takes an engagement that asks us to “sit in” the learning, asking questions that nudge our learners to reflect and stretch themselves and being open minded enough to consider what is being shared with us.

2) Play!

Play is a natural pathway that paves the way for learners to take risks, make connections and ask questions of themselves and those they collaborate with. When we approach our practice with a playful mindset we have more fun and can be more present and creative with what’s before us. As inquiry leaders, we’re quite mindful about the opportunities we provide teachers for professional learning, rethinking our schedules and giving space for exploration and connection with peers, and encouraging the tinkering with ideas, not feeling bound by the systems put before us. Instead of feeling confined by these systems telling ourselves, “ya, but…” we embody a playful mindset by approaching what’s before us with, “yes, and…” instead. This simple reframe invites a playful mindset and helps us remain open to possibilities, questions, and new opportunities with one another. With the stressors that have plagued us all over the last few years, this approach to learning and building community is even more essential to teaching and learning. 

3) Rethinking data and assessment

We need to rethink the various ways that we consider collecting evidence of learning. While our schools are most frequently measured with quantitative data, inquiry leaders consider all forms of data as essential to measure learner growth as well as needs. Let’s consider artifacts of learning such as student questions, interests and passions, reflections, and feedback about how the learning is impacting them. I wonder what’s possible when we rethink our mindset and approach to assessment, inviting a conversation about our learners that comes from a place of growth or possibility instead of what’s missing or lacking? I wonder how leaders can help create these spaces in their learning communities? 

You gotta see this!

My son loves pandas. He’s read tons of books on them, asks endless questions, and can’t wait to eventually see one in person someday. We’ve recently gotten into the habit of watching short panda videos on Instagram before bedtime smiling and doubled over in tears from laughing so hard. Tell me you’re not smiling after watching one of these!

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CcFNrxzBRN4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=