Jenn Kirksey

Phoenix

Jennifer Kirksey didn’t choose early childhood education; early childhood education chose her. Jennifer began her college years pursuing a degree in criminal justice but quickly realized that a big key to reducing the chances of people finding themselves in the criminal justice system is by providing rich learning opportunities from birth on.

After her realization and volunteering at a local school, Jennifer changed her degree to elementary education and began working in a preschool setting, eventually getting certified as an elementary educator with an endorsement in structured English immersion and early childhood education. Now, she collectively has over 10 years of experience in different early childhood settings. She has worked with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a presc

hool environment, directed an early childhood education center, taught in kindergarten classrooms and now finds herself mentoring Head Start teachers.
Along the way, Jennifer has been intrigued by the social and emotional development as well as the mental health side of early childhood education. She is self-taught on many practices surrounding these two categories but hopes to become certified in child psychology one day.

Jennifer also has a Masters in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and eventually sees herself running a nonprofit program dedicated to early childhood education and the mental health of all related parties (students, parents/guardians, teachers and other important participants). Learning about the differences in boys and girls and the ways they use their brain (through the Gurian Institute) has been an integral part of that journey and she looks forward to sharing her extensive knowledge with all of the educators and educational stakeholders who she will meet through the Gurian Institute.