Jenna Heffernan
assistant teacher (she/her)
Jenna first arrived at Park West as a student (one of her first teachers was Anita). She was fortunate to have a mom who became an active member of the Park West community, serving as a Board Member for 3 years. Seeing her mother’s investment in school signified an interest and investment in Jenna and her ideas. They mattered. That was a powerful and influential message to Jenna leading her to a lifelong relationship with Park West and early education. She spent summers working in the Park West office and as a junior camp counselor. Jenna moved to California for her undergraduate degree at USC. While a student, Jenna worked as a tutor at a LAUSD elementary school. In addition, she took on the role of Site Coordinator for Peace Games, a non-profit program promoting conflict resolution through non-violent means. She was a project manager for her school, coordinating a half dozen student teachers and their classrooms. The role and sense of community that was ingrained in Jenna at Park West aided her success as project manager. Jenna continued working with young children for nearly two decades in Los Angeles, both as a professional nanny and volunteer tutor. After having a child, Jenna returned to Chicago. She continued her relationship with Park West, both professionally (working as a substitute teacher, an inclusion aide, assistant teacher and camp counselor) as well as a parent herself. Jenna cherishes the Park West ideal; we take children and their ideas seriously. Sometimes the most powerful moment for a child is to have a grownup listen to them. Jenna hopes to be that person for many, many children. When she’s not working Jenna likes going on nature hikes with her son Finn and dog Roz.