2020 Elementary Mathematics Specialist Scholarship Recipient
Jessica Jung
Manitowoc, WI
Biography
My name is Jessica Jung and I am currently in my 22 year of teaching. I received my Bachelor’s Degree with a dual major in Elementary Education and Special Education from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI. I began my career as a Remedial Reading Teacher at an elementary school in Two Rivers, WI where I taught for 5 years before moving back home to Rhinelander, WI. I began teaching at the Northland Pines School District in Eagle River, WI in 2003 and have been there since. Between both school districts, I have taught fourth grade, looped with first and second grade, been trained as a Reading Recovery teacher and am currently a Title I teacher. I have also earned my Master’s Degree in Education and a Reading Specialist Certification from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI.
I have always been passionate about building strong foundational skills for children and focused on best practices in reading instruction for students in grades PrK - 2. I had an opportunity to participate in a mathematics professional development course offered by the US Math Recovery Council that opened my eyes to math instruction. I made the decision to pursue a Math Specialist Certification through the University of WI Stout. I also dove into all the information I could get about best practices in mathematics and shared my new knowledge with the Northland Pines District Director of Teaching and Learning. Through professional learning communities and a newly formed district mathematics committee, I am able to share my knowledge to help support best practices in mathematics instruction. My true passion is for the foundational skills taught in grades PrK – 2. I have discovered many connections between practices in both reading and math and feel that building a strong foundation in the early years is key to student success.
I am incredibly grateful and humbled that you have chosen me to be one of the recipients of this scholarship. It will allow me to complete my Math Specialist Certification and continue to be an advocate for providing professional development around the current best practices in mathematics for the Northland Pines School District.