Being introduced to dance classes at the age of 4, Jennifer has been moving and grooving ever since and thrilled to be a part of the Kaleidoscope staff for the upcoming year! Growing up in a suburb of Tulsa (Sapulpa), Jennifer participated in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, competition crew and tumbling through her senior year. In both solo categories and group, she has competed and placed in state and national competitions, including Dance Masters, Tremaine, Dupree and LA Dance Force. She was also selected as a cheerleader for Sapulpa, beginning in middle school through high school and started her college journey at the University of Tulsa and chosen to be a member of the TU Pom Squad.
After transferring to Northeastern State University as a sophomore, Jennifer was a member of the NSU Pom squad for 5 years, serving as co-captain for two of those years and as the dance team coach her last year with the squad. Some of the many highlights during that time is having been chosen to represent and perform at the '95 Super Bowl in Miami, Florida; receiving awards in the Miss NSU pageant and placing 1st in the NSU Talent Show Dance category.
During her time in Tahlequah, OK, she directed the NSU Childrens' Dance/Tumbling program for 6 years which included class instruction, choreography, recital production and promoting the program at local event performances. While involved in the dance education program at Northeastern State, she was part of the NSU Performing Dance Company, traveling to communities and schools to showcase NSU's dancers and musicians.
She earned her BS in Health & Human Performance, with a minor in Dance Education, and MS in Health Education at NSU. Hired by the Bentonville School District to teach Health & Wellness at what was originally Walton Junior High, she taught at Walton/Washington Junior High, Bentonville High School and Ardis Ann Middle School (PE) over a 17 year span along with instructing courses for Northwest Arkansas Community College in Wellness Concepts, Nutrition and physical activity classes. Additional teaching has included children's tumbling classes at the Wal-Mart Fitness Center, swimming instructor for Bentonville/Fayetteville Parks & Rec/Fitness Center and aerobics instructor for area fitness locations.
In her 4th year with the Arkansas State Department's Digital Learning Program, Jennifer begins her 21st year of teaching Health & Wellness in Fall 2018 . As one of two full-time health teachers for the program, assigned student numbers have exceeded 500 yearly and represent a majority of the high schools statewide. Her number one kid is her son Joseph, whom she will continue to coach in soccer this year, along with attending his basketball/baseball activities and being involved in his school classroom. She is an avid tennis player and outdoor enthusiast.