Dr. Jessica Eliason
I am a licensed experienced educator who loves teaching and is passionate about providing students the very best start to their academic careers. I taught for 7 years at the Academy of Science for Loudoun County Public Schools and in undergraduate classes for 3 years at Brigham Young University and Emory University​
The idea for this school started with my oldest child. I saw this friendly outgoing girl shrink in large groups. I noticed that she managed her emotions better with plenty of outdoor time and that her mind learns best with physical activity. I wanted to create the right environment for her to thrive. I worried about the effects of increasing class sizes and heavy administrative burdens in traditional school. I started this microschool, because I love inspiring young learners and providing fuel for their imagination and creativity. I thought there were similar children out there to my daughter who could benefit from small classes with a teacher's focused attention and outdoor hands-on activities. I wanted to provide a safe and comfortable home and outdoor environment for them to learn and grow.
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Our kindergarten home features its own private side entrance on a quiet street. The classroom is a charming sunroom that opens onto a large lush backyard with a porch and playground.
A little on my credentials: I graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Biology. I received a Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Emory University. During that time, I performed research in the fields of endocrinology, genetics, biochemistry, and neuroscience. Before transitioning to education, I did neuroscience research at the Janelia Research Campus of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, first as a Graduate Research Fellow and then as a Post-Doctoral Fellow. I have taught courses in biology, biology ESL, microbiology, human genetics, physics, chemistry, Earth science, and research.
I am enthusiastic to apply the skills and resources I've acquired to a younger age group. Teaching requires a lot of creativity, flexibility, compassion, and preparation. I have extensive experience aligning fun hands-on activities with standards of learning, designing carefully-timed lesson plans, and creating curriculum. I have completed all required licensure coursework concerning childhood development and classroom management. I have always loved school and while science is my specialty, music, theatre, literature, writing, emotional and mental health, math, and manners are all vital components to becoming a functional well-rounded person. I can't wait to be able to share my joy for all subjects with these kids.