Jenifer was nominated as a hidden hero because she is a phenomenal educator. She goes to work everyday and loves her students unconditionally. Helping her students see all of the wonderful gifts they have and helping them explore and grow to their full potential. It takes a big heart to help shape little minds. 

Jenifer was born in South Carolina, but raised in Rochelle, Illinois. She's lived in Portage County for the past 17 years and had known since she was a little girl that she wanted to be a teacher.  Growing up Jenifer had so many teachers that truly made a difference in her life, and when she was littler she would play school all of the time.  One day she wanted to be that person for others that would make a difference. She had dealt with hearing issues growing up and then saw the movie "Children of a Lesser God" in high school and decided she wanted to be a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing. For a while she did that and then her trajectory changed and changed her life, and so began her career working with deaf and hard of hearing children and families.

After moving to Georgia, she started teaching 4K in a new program and falling in love with Early Childhood Education. She has had other teaching jobs as her family continued to relocate and loved all of them. She believed that the foundation of her teaching was to love learning, be able to solve problems and manage their emotions in a healthy way.

When they moved back to Plover she had just had their third child and Stevens Point Schools began their 4K Program shortly after. She knew that's what she was called to do.  Now she has been teaching 4K since it began in 2007 and has truly loved every minute of it.  The relationships she has built with children and their families has made her who she is today. Jenifer has overcome countless obstacles, but she knows that is part of the journey.  She says she has a very supportive husband and family that encouraged her to always do what she needs to do to make her dreams come true.  "My teaching career has definitely exceeded my hopes and dreams".