
Jessica Novakowski
IllinoisJessica began her teaching career in Kentucky after receiving her MA in Curriculum and Instruction at age 23. She then moved to Illinois, where she taught kindergarten and grades 2–4 before becoming a math coach. Utilizing her next MA in Mathematics Education, Jessica developed and facilitated a wide variety of professional development sessions specializing in kindergarten and how best to support our youngest learners. Co-teaching and collaborating with teachers has been a highlight of her career, all while implementing the Illustrative Math curriculum. After knowing so many people in her life who just “weren’t math people,” Jessica found a passion in mathematics education, helping all learners (teachers and students alike) to love, enjoy, and see themselves as “math people!” When Jessica is not trying to instill a love of math in all people, she is most likely to be found reading a book with an iced coffee!