TJs New Math Teacher Comes From the Bustling East Coast to the Outdoorsy State of Colorado.
Teacher Jessica Conlin brings a taste of New Jersey to Colorado. Photo by Tori Wallace
Jessica Conlin, born in 1984 in New Jersey, moved to Colorado last year after she traveled to different states, and decided Denver was the place for her. “I wanted to leave New Jersey because I felt like I had never been anywhere else and wanted to try something new,” says Conlin. “I considered moving to Chicago, New Zealand, or Arkansas before finally choosing Colorado,” Conlin explains. “Some of my favorite things to do are camping and hiking; Colorado seemed to have a lot of places where you could get in the car, drive, and find yourself in a beautiful area.” Conlin also mentioned that, not only does she enjoy the outdoors, she also loves sewing and spending time with Snickerdoodle, her mini schnauzer. “All my family lives from Florida to Massachusetts. I’ve always been close with my family and I know my parents support me but I miss them a lot.” Explained Conlin, “I do have a boyfriend to keep me company. He moved to Colorado a year before I did so I kind of followed him out here.” She says smiling.
Being a math teacher is a perfect fit for Conlin, who explains she has wanted to be one ever since elementary school. “In third grade when I realized being a teacher wasn’t volunteer work, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. Algebra 2 in high school made me fall in love with math and, from then on, I knew I had to major in it,” said Conlin. “Math has been my favorite subject all throughout school and still now, I have always loved it.” She paused then remembering something, and said, “ In fact, the other day I was looking through my old stuff and in first grade we did a survey asking what our favorite subject was, and mine of course was math.”
Conlin explains she worked at other schools before coming to TJ. “This is my fourth teaching job. I’ve worked as a math teacher for five years in New Jersey. I also had a long-term substitute position last year in Denver. “ Conlin describes why TJ has been her favorite of the schools she’s taught at so far saying how impressed she is. “The atmosphere is so striking. You can really tell that all the teachers are more than willing to bend over backwards for each and every one of their students.” She tells the Journal, “Ever since day one I was impressed by the teachers, the students, and the community itself. I chose Thomas Jefferson because when I looked on the TJ Journal I saw that it was a very hands-on school with lots of extracurricular activities.”
Conlin, pausing from the interview to help a student, said her favorite part of her job besides the actual math would have to be the students, “I love working with students because they have a lot to teach you, and you learn something new everyday. There are a lot of interesting people here at TJ, many varieties of personalities and interests. Coming to work is a different experience every day and my students keep it fun and enjoyable.”
Conlin says TJ is just a positive place to be and work. “I’m very lucky to have this teaching opportunity because not only is the school a perfect fit, but I get to enjoy doing something I love everyday: math.”
