Jessica Poyer comes to Norwich with nearly two decades of experience in education, many of those years happening in the elementary classroom. As a longtime teacher, Jessica coveted professional learning and was always eager to put research into practice. Jessica defines her best teaching memories as the years when she was able to work in a highly collaborative classroom environments, where, alongside a trusted colleague, she had many opportunities to take risks and continuously reflect on her practice. Much of Jessica’s professional development experiences stemmed from week-long intensive studies in reading, writing, coaching and social studies at Columbia University’s Teachers College and from the PEBC in Denver. These experiences align closely with Jessica’s pedagogical belief in the Universal Design for Learning.
Jessica’s passion for instruction led her to obtain her administrative certification upon completion of the Leadership Academy at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Jessica’s administrative experience is varied, having served as the Project Coordinator for a Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant for the Hamilton and Camden School Districts. This grant focused on creating after school project-based learning for students in grades K-8 across both districts. Recently, Jessica served as the Administrator of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at the Oneida City School District. In this role, Jessica oversaw curriculum, instruction and assessment across all PreK-12 populations. Jessica also collaborated with the Board of Education, administrators and teachers on topics ranging from Response to Intervention to special populations. Jessica managed all professional development and facilitated the New Teacher Orientation and mentoring programs at Oneida.
Jessica is a second career educator, gaining her childhood and special education certification at Nazareth College in Rochester through her Master’s Degree. Jessica describes her first career as a Broadcast Journalist as a lab classroom, as every day she learned something new while reporting stories, anchoring and producing. Having interviewed stakeholders ranging from George W. Bush to the ‘man-on-the-street’, Jessica gained a bevy of experience and understanding of the world through this career. What was missing for Jessica professionally was the daily feeling of making a difference, which, as the daughter of an elementary teacher, Jessica knew that teaching would offer.
Writing has always been a passion for Jessica, and after emerging from Waterville High School, she was able to pursue that passion as a Broadcast Journalism major at Syracuse University. Aside from teaching, learning and writing, Jessica’s other passions include reading, the outdoors, specifically being active with family and friends skiing, hiking, and golfing. Jessica also loves to volunteer; her family facilitates the annual Daniel Barden Mudfest, and she and her family have hosted children through the Fresh Air Fund for nearly two decades. Jessica is her daughter’s FTC Robotics coach. Really, she says, the group members are coaching her, as she learns every day from the teens she enjoys working with.
Jessica is grateful for the opportunity to serve the teachers, staff, students, parents and Norwich community. Having been born, raised and educated in a small town, serving a rural community is where her passion lies.