Jenny holds a Masters in Early Childhood and Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University and a BFA in Art Education (PreK-12) from Baylor University. She began her teaching career 27 years ago in a small Arkansas town and has since taught ages preschool-college in Arkansas, Texas, and Washington States.
Jenny is a fierce advocate for a child’s right to play and believes that a play-based program provides the best opportunity for young children to learn self-regulation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. There is empirical evidence that shows that social-emotional development is the leading indicator of long-term school success and that is what informs her position as an educator. Her goal is to graduate children from Magnolia who are not only successful academically, but who are empathetic and kind human beings. She is a teacher first and believes that the outdoor environment is an ideal place for a child’s imagination to soar and relationships to flourish.
Jenny has two children, Jackson and Grace, and two stepsons, Connor and Sean. Jackson is working on his degree in Elementary Education and has worked at Magnolia as a teacher, starting at Summer Camps, since 2019. Grace was one of the OG camp counselors when Magnolia opened in 2018 and is currently a supervisor at Wet Noses Dry Paws combining her passions for dogs and organization. Connor and Sean are pursuing their careers in L.A. and Tacoma. Her husband, Bob, supplies her with constant love and laughter.