About me
Jessica Fong is an equity‑centered educator, researcher, and community advocate who has spent more than fifteen years strengthening early childhood, dual language, and nature‑based learning across Chicago. Born in Chicago and of Guatemalan heritage, she began her teaching journey in Guatemala in 2007, an experience that shaped her commitment to culturally grounded, community-rooted education. She later taught in Chicago Public Schools, where she supported dual language programming and coached educators in inquiry‑based, culturally responsive practice.
Jessica’s leadership includes directing programs that uplift garden and nature‑based learning while mentoring instructional teams across the city. She guides strategic planning and builds partnerships with community organizations to expand access to high‑quality outdoor learning. She has also designed and led citywide professional development for educators dedicated to integrating nature and outdoor experiences into their classrooms.
As a faculty member at Roosevelt University, Jessica develops and teaches courses on early childhood development and dual language education while coaching future teachers as they prepare to enter the field. She also leads the McKinley Community Play Garden, a grassroots initiative that brings families together for joyful, nature experiences in the city. Jessica is the author of Seeing Ourselves in Nature: Stories from Educators and Children of Indigenous, Black, and Other People of the Global Majority, a collection that uplifts the voices and experiences of BIPOC educators and families. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin, where her research centers equity, community stewardship, and systems‑level change.
This is Jessica's second appearance at a NINPA conference, having previously sat on the keynote panel in our 2022 conference.
