Meet Our Tutor Time Staff – Ms. Jessica, School-Age Teacher

Meet Ms. Jessica, school age teacher at our location in Schaumburg, IL! Along with working with school-agers, she also drives the Tutor Time bus and assists in various classrooms throughout the day while her students are at school. Read our Q&A to learn more about the amazing things Jessica is doing at Tutor Time!

Tell us about your background in early childhood education!

I have worked with kids my entire life. Throughout high school I was adding classes because we ran out of classes to take, and I was going to an elementary school and being an assistant to the teacher. There were times when she was like “take control of the class, you got it.” I went to school to be a first grade teacher and a special needs teacher, and then this job just fell into my lap. I fell in love with the kids, the employees and my bosses.

Why early education?

I love kids. I’ve always had a connection with them and I love being around them and seeing them grow and all that. It’s pretty rewarding and pretty amazing.

Can you talk about the benefits of our school-age program?

I actually tell this to a lot of the parents. I worked in after school programs and things like that, and they can be more of a free-for-all. Here, we try to get them outside as much as possible. We grow our own insects, we have caterpillars and things like that and we get to let them go. We keep them busy. If it’s just free for all, they get bored.

What is one of your favorite accomplishments since you’ve been at Tutor Time?

I’ve been the teacher of the year! I was here for about a year at the time. That was pretty awesome.

What was your favorite subject when you were in school?

I love math. My first grade teacher, she just made it fun and interesting. It wasn’t just “one plus one.” She would bring things in and make math more exciting. That’s basically why I became a teacher, too. I fell in love with my kindergarten and first grade teachers, and I’m like, “If I can do that for other kids, then my job is done.”

Tell us about some of your favorite hobbies!

I love to do arts and crafts! I also like to be out and about and play sports. I’m very athletic. When I’m outside and moving around, that’s my favorite.

How would you describe your teaching style?

I try to think positive. I try to teach these kids that you can be having the worst day, but as soon as you walk through my classroom door, it’s a fresh start. Throw it away. It’s a new day. A parent might be out of town and a student will be down and a little more negative, and they’ll go, “You know what, I’m not having that bad of a day. I can turn it around.” That right there, that’s huge.

What do you love about working at Tutor Time?

These teachers are like family. I just love sharing the same passion with the fellow teachers. It’s a home away from home. It’s like my dream job and I love it. I just took a long weekend where I had Friday and Monday off, and I missed them and my kids missed me. That right there – I’m on vacation and I miss my job!