TEAM MEMBER

Jessica Leader is a veteran educator, writer, and literacy specialist with more than 13 years of experience teaching middle and high school English and History. She specializes in supporting students in grades 5–12 with reading comprehension, analytical writing, vocabulary development, and the writing process, with a particular passion for helping reluctant readers and frustrated writers build confidence and exceed their own expectations.

Jessica previously served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at One World Education, where she helped students develop their voices as writers by engaging deeply with topics that mattered to them. Her teaching is grounded in the belief that stories help young people both discover themselves and better understand the world around them. Whether guiding students through a complex nonfiction text, helping them organize and expand their ideas, or unlocking meaning through vocabulary and discussion, Jessica brings warmth, creativity, and intellectual curiosity to every learning experience.

Jessica holds a BA with Honors in English and American Literature from Brown University, an MA in Teaching English and Educational Theatre from New York University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is also the author of the middle-grade novel Nice and Mean.