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Jessica Walsh is a TheEdCollab Book Ambassador, focusing on 6-12 readers (meet our K-5 Ambassador, JoEllen, here). Jessica is passionate about helping readers find the right book at the right moment in their journey.
Jessica is a classroom teacher in suburban Chicago whose work is rooted in nurturing the stories and histories of young people through literacy. She has been a middle school teacher for over 20 years as well as an instructional specialist, curriculum writer, professional development facilitator, and educational consultant. Jessica has led professional learning, supported teacher teams, and helped design learning experiences that honor student voice and equity through culturally responsive practices. Jessica focuses on identity-driven, inquiry-based instruction that empowers students to explore history, literature, and justice through storytelling.
Jessica believes deeply in education as a practice of freedom and as a platform for student storytelling and civic connection. Whether through curriculum writing, conference presentations, or classwork work, her mission is to build meaningful pathways for students to see themselves as authors, historians, and change-makers.
A lifelong learner herself, Jessica holds a Masters of Arts in Reading Instruction from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education from Ball State University. She continues to research and develop pedagogy grounded in bonding young people with the power of words while centering the belief that literacy is a tool for connection, advocacy, and transformation.
Jessica holds memberships in professional organizations including National Council of Teachers of English and National Council for the Social Studies. She has presented at national and state education conferences–including the National Council of Teachers of English and the Illinois Reading Council. She has received recognitions for her teaching, including a Distinguished Alumni Award, Most Influential Educator honor, and multiple teaching grants for classroom innovation and community-based learning. You can follow her teaching journey at @storiestoldinsf.
