Jenifer Van Deusen
Education Specialist
While in high school, way back in the day, Jenifer met A.S. Neill, the founder of Summerhill, who ignited her lifelong passion for learning and teaching. After completing her undergraduate work, Jen taught for ten years in Northern California, and then moved to Maine with her then-young family. The first wave of school reform in Maine swept Jen into the current at the Maine Department of Education, where she served as the first early education specialist for the state, and led large-scale programs in progressively responsible roles. When state service ceased to be fun, Jen joined the Center for Educational Services as the Head Gardener for SEED, a statewide network of teachers teaching teachers. Supported by a multi-million dollar federal grant, SEED cultivated the great ideas of teachers and identified natural leaders and partnered with Apple Computer, Inc. on the Maine Learning Technology Initiative to teach Maine teachers to use their new laptops. When the money ran out Jen became the curriculum coordinator in the Kittery school department. Her background includes successful organization development, training and grant writing experience. At the residency, Jen works on enhancing learning and teaching, accreditation issues and other fun stuff. Off duty, Jen loves wild rambles by the sea and in the woods, playing with her two grown daughters, reading, watching films, and exploring inner and outer frontiers.