Background and Education
Jennifer Stackhouse: Biographical Sketch
Born in Canada, I've lived in a log cabin in Alaska, and danced at the foothills of the Wasatch mountains, though I was raised primarily in Madison Wisconsin. I have made Portland Oregon my home for the last 29 years.
I had a complex childhood; my family struggled with poverty, job and food insecurity, and we moved often. I attended four different schools by second grade. Eventually things settled, and I had the opportunity of joining Wingra school, a progressive K-8 with a philosophy of supporting students unique strengths, developing their skills to think critically and deeply, and to actively engage in their learning through thematic integrated instruction. As a child who struggled with Dyslexia, Wingra offered me the deep relationships, caring support, knowledge base, and flexibility I needed to feel success and develop my skills. Unfortunately I also experienced teachers who had low expectations of my abilities, who did not support me at best and who publicly humiliated me and my neurodiversity at worst. In time, I wanted to create for my public school students the experience of being seen, supported, cared for, and receiving skillful instruction so they could thrive.
My road to education was not a direct one. Initially I was a dancer and then dance teacher specializing in pre-ballet, creative dance, and adult beginning ballet. My natural leadership strengths led me to become the studio manager at The Portland Ballet where I managed schedules, payroll, calendar, supported performances and more. It was fulfilling but ever the learner, I sought a new challenge.
When I decided to pursue academic teaching, I attended George Fox University for both my MAT and later my Ed. D. I student taught in David Douglas at grades 5 and 3. I was then hired by Beaverton School District and taught at West TV Elementary, and Vose Spanish Immersion Elementary in grades 3, 2 and a 1/2 blend. After completing my Ed.D. I became the District K-8 MTSS coordinator for Gresham Barlow. In 2018 I became a school administrator working in a both neighborhood and K-8 public charter school settings.
I have my professional administrative and professional teaching licenses.
I live in Portland with my husband and our two daughters. A few of my favorite things are spending time with my family, gardening, traveling, cooking, singing with my brother and being outdoors. When I am not at schools, you might spot me walking in the woods, supporting my daughters at their high school sport events or in my garden.
I had a complex childhood; my family struggled with poverty, job and food insecurity, and we moved often. I attended four different schools by second grade. Eventually things settled, and I had the opportunity of joining Wingra school, a progressive K-8 with a philosophy of supporting students unique strengths, developing their skills to think critically and deeply, and to actively engage in their learning through thematic integrated instruction. As a child who struggled with Dyslexia, Wingra offered me the deep relationships, caring support, knowledge base, and flexibility I needed to feel success and develop my skills. Unfortunately I also experienced teachers who had low expectations of my abilities, who did not support me at best and who publicly humiliated me and my neurodiversity at worst. In time, I wanted to create for my public school students the experience of being seen, supported, cared for, and receiving skillful instruction so they could thrive.
My road to education was not a direct one. Initially I was a dancer and then dance teacher specializing in pre-ballet, creative dance, and adult beginning ballet. My natural leadership strengths led me to become the studio manager at The Portland Ballet where I managed schedules, payroll, calendar, supported performances and more. It was fulfilling but ever the learner, I sought a new challenge.
When I decided to pursue academic teaching, I attended George Fox University for both my MAT and later my Ed. D. I student taught in David Douglas at grades 5 and 3. I was then hired by Beaverton School District and taught at West TV Elementary, and Vose Spanish Immersion Elementary in grades 3, 2 and a 1/2 blend. After completing my Ed.D. I became the District K-8 MTSS coordinator for Gresham Barlow. In 2018 I became a school administrator working in a both neighborhood and K-8 public charter school settings.
I have my professional administrative and professional teaching licenses.
I live in Portland with my husband and our two daughters. A few of my favorite things are spending time with my family, gardening, traveling, cooking, singing with my brother and being outdoors. When I am not at schools, you might spot me walking in the woods, supporting my daughters at their high school sport events or in my garden.
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Education
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Doctorate of Education - Educational Leadership and Foundations - George Fox University, 2011
Dissertation: Collaboration, Administrative Support for Collaboration and Teacher Job Satisfaction: An Analysis of One Rural School Master of Arts in Teaching - George Fox University, 2004 Research: Metacognitive Instruction and Student Testing Achievement Bachelor of Science in Fine Art, Sculpture - Portland State University, 2001 Honorary Societies: Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key |