In 2016, Jess left her Masters degree and career in education behind to pursue her first and obvious love: fitness. Her self discovery through educating diverse students has fueled her passion of connecting to communities that often times are overlooked and under resourced. Her education career started with Teach for America in Houston, Texas which led to becoming a Teacher, Operations Director, Assistant Principal and ultimately Principal at Harlem Village Academies. She held the title of team captain across three sports in high school and continued to become the captain of her collegiate basketball team for three years. She was a natural athlete and leader from the start, participating in various sports from lacrosse to soccer to basketball. She grew up in a mixed household in Peabody, MA, a city just north of Boston, to an Italian mother who instilled the importance of helping others and black father who inspired her work ethic through a shared love of sports at a very young age. Jess is an educator and fitness instructor based in New York City.
