About Jennifer
Jennifer's Uncle Charlie & PopPop recognized the long-term income inequalities that were going to result from Ronald Reagan's massive tax cuts to the wealthy.
Jennifer was born in Washington, DC to a working-class family of sheet-metal workers and firefighters. Growing up in a single-parent home gave her a strong understanding of the value of hard work, direct communication, and collaboration.​
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Jennifer attended public schools and was 15 when she was hired for her first job: working the cash register at Lowen's, an independent toy store in Bethesda, Maryland. She stayed at Lowen's throughout high school and credits the shop's 'no exceptions free gift wrap' policy for her ability to multitask under the most stressful conditions. (Please, don't ask her about Saturday mornings in December)
​Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maryland at College Park. While there, she held down two jobs: she waited tables in the evening, and she worked as a secretary for the National Institutes of Health's Radiation Oncology Clinic weekday afternoons. ​Chesapeake welcomed Jennifer and her family in the mid-1990’s.​​
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Jennifer went on to earn her Master of Science in Education at Old Dominion University and was hired to teach English for Chesapeake Public Schools in 2000. Her then-husband was preparing to retire from a 20-year career as a Navy SEAL. ​
The whole family finished the Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon!
Avery, YSPH
Class of 2023
Despite the successes Jennifer has enjoyed from her various efforts, she'll tell you the best thing she's done is raise amazing people: Avery, Aaron, and Alison. All three are products of Chesapeake Public Schools and graduates of Hickory High School, where she teaches. Yes, Jennifer did teach her own kids!
​Today, Avery is a graduate of Yale School of Public Health, living & working in Boston as an environmental health scientist. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology she earned from Christopher Newport University couldn't have been any more perfect for her plans. Aaron is a graduate of the ODU School of Nursing working at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on the cardiac intensive care unit. Ali spent two years at Tidewater Community College and is finishing her degree in Communications at James Madison University.
While Jennifer is immensely proud of her children's academic and professional accomplishments, she's most likely to brag about her kids' hustle: all three will have earned their undergraduate degrees with no student debt. Clearly, they learned something about living below their means by watching their mom raise them on a teacher's salary!
Aaron, ODU
Nursing Class of 2023
​Despite working full-time, Jennifer works actively with several community organizations toward the shared goal of improving opportunities for everyone in Chesapeake. She still loves her work for Chesapeake Public Schools, where she advocates for both students and staff.
In all areas of her life, Jennifer has found success by meeting people where they are and using that starting point as the foundation for a productive relationship. She anticipates that trait will continue to serve her and Chesapeake well, as she collaborates to improve our city in vital, citizen-centered ways.
Ali, HHS Class of 2022