Jessica Bledsoe

Principal

Hermosa Valley School

Los Angeles '08

Jessica Bledsoe’s journey from aspiring to cure patients to caring for students demonstrates the profound influence the first year of teaching can have in shaping a person’s life trajectory. She is a Teach For America Los Angeles 2008 corps member who took a leap of faith becoming a teacher and switching careers. She went from pursuing pre-med studies to working at a bank for a short period as a professional to then committing as a full-time teacher and has never looked back. Fifteen years later, Jessica is still living out her dream job, now as a school principal leading and guiding students and teachers.

Grade and Subject taught: High school science
Current Job/Sector: School principal; education
Major/Alma Mater: Biochemistry, Syracuse University
Pronouns: She/her

School Principal Reflects on her Teach For America Corps Experiences

In this alum video profile, we meet Jessica Bledsoe (Los Angeles ’08), principal at Hermosa Valley School in Hermosa Beach, California. She shares how her Teach For America corps experience played a role in shaping her career trajectory and what skills from her days as a classroom teacher she still uses today.

View transcript

Jessica Bledsoe: After my first year, I just knew I have to do this for the rest of my life.

Questions: How did your Teach For America corps experience play a role in shaping your career trajectory?

Jessica: My current position is principal at Hermosa Valley School in Hermosa Beach, and it is my home. I feel like dream job, wonderful fit in this particular location. Fantastic staff, wonderful community, excellent students.

I would say the corps shaped my ability to get this job because I learned a lot about the power of the pivot, you know, the ability to be flexible, the ability to be to be collaborative. And I think those skills over time working in education for the last over a decade have really taught me a lot about who I am and what my central goals are. As an educator, like what's my educational philosophy? So that started in Teach for America, that started in the corps.

Where is the most need really is where I always tend to go. So this particular group of individuals is the has the most need. What resources do I have available to them and how do i find them?

Question: What skills did you develop as a teacher in the corps that surprised you or that you still use today?

Jessica: One of the things that I learned in the corps that I feel like is a very important skill set is how to intrigue and interest students. What's the hook, what's going to get them interested in learning, what's going to get them to buy into your message? And I learned that by being bad at it initially. Like, wow, I really failed at that lesson, it fell flat on its face. How do I turn that around and make it better so students learn?

In those early days of not being a high-quality teacher, as I was learning to become a teacher, I learned a lot about myself. But I think more than anything I learned that I and these kids can do anything. They can do anything, and a little bit of hope goes a long way.

One of my great friends says ‘Praise makes room for more.’ And I, since hearing that from her, have kind of lived by that. And, you know, when you say something wonderful to a student, “Gosh, I was so impressed with that work product you turned out or I was so impressed with how eloquent you spoke when you gave that presentation.” It changes their body language. It changes their demeanor. You can see a breath like I've even seen students tear up when receiving a positive compliment. But I fully and authentically believe that praise makes room for more. And when we celebrate kids, they know the sky's the limit.

Question: How did being a teacher connect you to the community?

Jessica: Being a teacher is being a part of the community. The community relies on teachers to be the incredible leaders and emotional connection with their kid as they trust them. You know, they trust the school environment, public school environment to take care of my child while I'm away, while I'm at work or while I'm, you know, managing tasks at home. I think that's an incredible responsibility for anybody.

I'm responsible for them from the moment they walk out their front door to the moment they return. And it's a great responsibility, but it's also such an honor.

Question: Many people want to impact change, but don’t know where to start. What steps can young people take to make a difference?

Jessica: In order to make change, start small. It doesn't have to be world-changing to be, you know, to change someone's world. One of our teachers hosted an event called Empty Bowls, where the students built pottery and then local vendors filled the pottery with soup. And we held an event and then the donations went to the L.A. Food Bank. Those kids that night were like, “Are you going to pick my bowl? Is this the bowl you're going to choose?” And it just felt super personal. But I think start small, volunteer at a food bank or pick up a piece of trash Like it doesn't have to be something that's incredibly broad in order to execute change.

You were on a path to becoming a doctor. What made you change your mind?

I went to Syracuse University in New York and I was a biochem major with a minor in psychology, definitely on the pre-med path. So teaching was a bit of a surprise to me and my family. But I just found love, fell in love with students, fell in love with the learning process and it's been a fit to this day.

Previously, though, I had been through all of the science classes. I was very committed to going to med school. When suddenly, my mentor teacher said to me, “Do you really want to be a doctor?” I said, “I don't know why you're asking me this.” She repeated, “Do you want to be a doctor?” She added, “I just don't see you in a basement,” as my plans were to go into an MD-PhD program and do research.

She said, “I want you to apply to Teach For America. Please apply, please apply.” So, I did. I went all in and I got in.

I deferred medical school and taught for a year. After my first year I knew I had to do this for the rest of my life. I love children. I love being around students. I love the learning process. And I know that I can make a positive lasting change in children's lives.

What type of educator do you consider yourself?

I would say that I am a wellness principal. I often ask, “How is this going to impact the child, the whole child?” And that goes back to personalized learning. Do I know them? Do I know what is going on in their lives? Do I know what they are into?

Making education personal is important to me. What I hope to accomplish is supporting educators and leaders and parents and community activists to really see what is required for our students to excel and what we need to do to support them.

Can you tell us about the personal relationships you made in the corps?

I would say that one of the best things the corps taught me is the importance of relationships. Some of my longest best friends are members of the corps that I served with, and to this day I feel like relationships are my greatest strength. And I think that part of that is relying on others makes you stronger, not weaker.

Teach For America is all about relationships. It starts informally. It starts with, “Hey, you work at my school, too.” Then those same people are in your wedding and that experience is going to be a part of you forever. So really relish in that and recognize that those relationships are incredibly important in your future.

What advice do you have for incoming corps members?

Give yourself grace to learn the process of teaching, to make it engaging and recognize that you won't be good at it on day one. And that's OK. You're a model for your students. So what better way to model than work on your own personal growth?

My advice to first-year corps members would be to be kind to yourself. It's important to recognize that you're in your own growth cycle just like your students. Own your practice, but be kind to yourself.

Imagine Yourself As A Corps Member

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