Jailyn Jenkins has grounded her career in equity, connections, and the everyday adventures of learning. She has worked to spark a love for science within her students, particularly students of color. She knew she was going to be a STEM educator since she was four years old. However, the appreciation for curiosity, nature, and exploration led to her committing to science, hoping to minimize the barriers many people of color face within the field.

Growing up, she had a continuum of experiences – learning in spaces where diversity was prominent and promoted, and carving out space for advocacy and representation in spaces where that was both nonexistent and unvalued. Given the early onset teacher shortage in Arizona, Jailyn actually began her teaching career before earning her Bachelor of Arts in STEM Education, from Arizona State University, was conferred.

Beyond graduation, she continued teaching in the metropolitan area of Phoenix for three years, before returning to her hometown of Denver, to invest in the students within her community. Soon after her return to Denver, she completed her Masters in Education Administration, from Grand Canyon University, thus ushering her into spaces to influence and enhance equity-centered communities. She became a lab host, where other practicing teachers would visit and learn with her and her students, thus providing another platform of advocacy.

Beyond her classroom instruction, Jailyn served as a science instructional coach, staff developer, district facilitator, public speaker, and more. After about ten years of service, she saw a need to explore and expand into an organization that was committed to enhancing systems of education and comprehensive student access, so she joined the team at Public Education and Business Coalition. She is currently serving as a Manager of Resident Development, where she supports current -and aspiring- teachers, in preparation for licensure. In addition to her work with the Residency team, she collaboratively engages in intersectional initiatives around equity in education, both at the organizational and systemic level.

Having recently exited the classroom -amidst “the great resignation”- Jailyn recognizes the need for representation, healing, and joy amongst education stakeholders, especially those within BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. “It is hard to be what you can’t see,” and that is why she is passionate about supporting the retention of BIPOC educators as they learn to navigate a white-dominant system. As one of the most invigorating projects thus far, she is excited to launch the BEST (BIPOC Educational STEM Thinkers) conference this summer in Denver, Colorado. This conference is a place for Belonging, Awareness, Healing, and Change, all things Jailyn is hoping to accomplish, both in her career and life.