Driven by the belief that every child can learn to read, Jessica co-founded Ignite Reading to deliver that instruction at scale, specializing in high-dosage, evidence-based tutoring. This proven instructional method, which provides frequent, individualized focus, has been rigorously validated by a Johns Hopkins University study which demonstrates significant improvements in reading outcomes for students. Jessica’s career includes serving as assistant principal at success Academy Charter Schools and a literacy specialist at The Urban Assembly. She co-founded LightSail Education, an adaptive literacy software company and was CEO of Open Up Resources, a national nonprofit focused on educational equity. Her work has been featured in the documentaries The Lottery and The Right to Read. She authored the children’s book Cancer Hates Kisses (Penguin, 2017), loves yoga, travel, and reading with her daughter.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I don’t know how not to be productive. In fact, I am productive to the point that my therapist is working with me to try to make me less obsessed with productivity. My typical day is productivity personified. It starts with early morning meetings before I walk my daughter to school, which is an important 30 minutes because it’s time during an otherwise crazy day when I can be completely present with her and check in. As a fully remote company, I’m then jumping into marathon Zoom meetings that leave little time for basic things like peeing and eating until early evening, when I like to jump on my Peloton or take a hot yoga class to rinse off my day and make me more tolerable to be around. My daughter and I make dinner together, snuggle with our puppy, and play nerdy NYT games like Wordle. Once she’s in bed, I jump back into work, trying to get my inbox, which I use as my to-do list, as close to zero as possible. And now you can see why my therapist is worried about me.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I obsess for hours, days, weeks, even months about a problem I’m trying to solve. I scribble notes across my notebook, Google Docs, and on my phone. I spend time in nature and on my yoga mat just thinking and thinking and thinking. I talk to lots of different people because talking is a way that I can more fully explore ideas. And then, one day, out of nowhere, it will all suddenly click, and I’ll be like, “OMG! I’ve got it! This is what this needs to be!” Then I start building. And quickly thereafter, I realize that I have inadvertently complicated my already complicated life. Again. But I literally cannot help myself.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Baggy 90’s jeans. I need these to never ever go out of style.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Ok, my therapist is going to be so mad that this interview spotlights the very habits that she is trying to break. But since you asked, I am obsessed with making lists. I love a good list. Like, LOVE. It is so satisfying to make a list in my cute little notebook using my fun-colored pens and even more satisfying to cross things off the list.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Women think the man they’re going to marry will change. Men think the women they’re going to marry won’t change. And they’re both wrong.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
Fatty, greasy, undercooked bacon tastes better.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Go to the trees. I need to be in the trees whenever I can because, first, they smell amazing, but also, there’s a sense of peace and perspective I gain from the trees that I cannot otherwise find. I hide from my lists by going to the trees.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I cry. And it’s an ugly cry. Sometimes I have to shut my laptop and step away to give myself some space. A good night’s sleep, a proper meal, and some perspective from a trusted teammate, friend, or family member often helps because most of the time feelings of being overwhelmed and unfocused are due to me being worn down and needing to pause and take care of myself.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
This isn’t exactly a strategy, but here goes. Overcoming cancer and learning just how strong and brave I am, have helped me flourish in my career. When I am faced with something challenging, which is basically every single day as a CEO, I say to myself, “You beat cancer. You can totally do this.” Cancer taught me that I can do hard, scary things and survive.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I began my career as a teacher via a crash course certification process, and I was not taught how to teach kids to read. I stepped into a fifth-grade classroom in the Bronx and quickly learned that many of my kids were not proficient in reading. I had no idea what I was doing; I was utterly ill-equipped to help them despite my best attempts at trying. I was too inexperienced, and I didn’t have any development, coaching, or support to be better. So, I failed. I failed to teach my kids to read during the school year; that was their last chance before middle school. What’s worse, I taught fifth grade again in my second year of teaching and lathered, rinsed, and repeated those failures. To this day, it haunts me that I lost two years of being able to effectively serve kids. In my third year of teaching, I became a first-grade teacher at a different school where I was trained in evidence-based early literacy practices. And guess what? My kids learned to read! I learned that, yes, learning to read is a science, but it’s not rocket science. I became obsessed with wanting to help as many kids as possible learn to read, and I’ve carried this obsession through to the work I am doing today, twenty years later, where I have now taught tens of thousands of children across the country to read and have a goal of teaching millions to read.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I really need someone to start a chain of yoga studios at airports that offer 15-minute classes followed by an immune-boosting, energizing juice shot. I think this is a brilliant business idea. Please, someone, take this idea and pilot it in every United terminal across the country.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I recently got into Granola, an AI note-taking tool. I’m a meticulous note taker, but what Granola enables me to do is synthesize across my meeting notes so I can create memos, documents, and action plans with a few simple prompts. It’s been game-changing for my productivity. (But still, I love my list making. So very satisfying those pretty little lists I make.)
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
I bought the most amazing fluffy neon pink cardigan when I was in Amsterdam. It’s cozy and colorful, and when I wear it, I’m reminded of the perfect day I had with my daughter as we explored that magical city.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
I know you want me to say something smart here, but the books I’ve gotten the most value from are the ones that are pure escapism because I am working hard on learning how to just chill out. For my mental health, I’m reading a lot of fantasy novels because sexy, magical fairies help me decompress.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I don’t watch television, but I love to read. I recently devoured Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series, and now I am feeling unmoored because I was so attached to the characters and looked forward to “seeing” them every day. I’m a little lonely right now as I try to find new imaginary friends.
Key learnings:
- Gaining Perspective and Peace Through Nature: Prioritizing time spent in natural settings, specifically with trees, for achieving perspective, peace, and temporary disconnection from professional demands.
- Adversity Drives Leadership: Overcoming a serious illness, such as cancer, directly influenced a shift toward a more compassionate leadership style and instilled greater confidence in tackling difficult challenges.
- Strong Entrepreneurial Spirit and Problem Solver: Continuous problem-solving drives innovations to address service improvements and potential new ideas; and
- Harnessing Experience for Mission: Uses energy and insights gained from past challenging experiences and channels this towards the goal of helping children learn to read.