Hello! My name is Jessica O'Connor and I am excited to join Renaissance Secondary as a middle school ELA teacher.
As a Colorado native, I grew up exploring the mountains, which sparked a lifelong love of nature, adventure, and learning. That spirit of exploration eventually led me to serve in the U.S. Air Force, where I lived in Okinawa, Japan, spent time in Qatar, and was fortunate to experience new places and new perspectives.
After returning to Colorado, I earned my Bachelor's in Elementary Education and Master's in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and began what has become a wonderfully winding journey through education. Along the way, I have taught in traditional classrooms, led alternative educational programs, and happily wandered down more than a few rabbit holes.
Those experiences shaped my belief that learning doesn't only happen at a desk. Some lessons come from books, some from conversations, some from getting lost on a trail, and some from making mistakes and trying again. I love helping students discover connections between what they read, what they learn, and the world around them.