Meet Jenna: a Wisconsin educator, longtime inclusion champion, and proud boy-mom to an awesome crew of four! After more than 18 years in the classroom, she made a major life pivot to become a full-time advocate for her youngest son, Benny, following his Angelman Syndrome diagnosis. Now, Jenna is channeling her expert educator energy and lived experience into Guided by Grace, her brand-new coaching business dedicated to walking side-by-side with other disability parents as a pathfinder, mentor, and trusted guide. We’re so lucky to have her as a member of the Network!

What's your story?  Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Jenna is a 41-year-old educator and mother of four boys who recently celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary. Over her 18-year career in education, she worked as a classroom teacher and spent seven years as an Instructional Coach at her local elementary school. She holds degrees and certifications from UW-Milwaukee, Concordia University Wisconsin, and UW-Madison.

Throughout her life, Jenna has been dedicated to inclusion and supporting individuals with disabilities. This passion began in her youth as a student buddy, continued through various childcare and teaching roles, and led to her recent enrollment in the Self-Determination Network. As a teacher, she maintained an open-door policy for Special Education students, ensuring her classroom was always a welcoming space for everyone.

This commitment to advocacy became personal in 2020 with the birth of her fourth son, Benny, during the COVID-19 lockdown. She shares that following a difficult delivery, Benny faced severe feeding and sleeping challenges, alongside regressing developmental milestones. After 15 months of intensive medical testing, specialists, and early intervention therapies, genetic testing revealed a deletion on Benny's 15th chromosome, confirming a diagnosis of Angelman Syndrome.

Angelman Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder affecting one in 15,000 people. While the diagnosis did not change their joyful son, it gave Jenna and her husband the answers, resources, and community needed to support him. Today, Jenna is incredibly grateful to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation and fellow parents for their unwavering guidance and advocacy.

How are you involved with self-determination? What advocacy things are you involved in?

Although Benny's disability affects his speech and development, Jenna believes it does not diminish his inherent right to a fulfilling life. Reflecting on this, she shares, "One of the greatest lessons I've learned is that self-determination looks different for everyone. Sometimes it means advocating for yourself, and sometimes it means ensuring someone has the support they need so their own voice can be heard." Every decision Jenna and her husband make today is with the hope that Benny will grow into an adult who is fully empowered to express his preferences, make choices, and build meaningful relationships. Ultimately, self-determination is not just a concept she advocates for—it is a principle she hopes will shape his future.”

Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination?

Over the past year, Jenna experienced exciting professional changes after making the incredibly difficult decision to step away from elementary school teaching to be more available for her son’s needs. Leaving behind a beloved career in teaching and coaching was tough, but after nine months of reflection, she realized she could merge her passion for children with disabilities, her extensive education background, her lived experiences, and her need for a flexible schedule. Driven by these core values, she launched her own business, Guided by Grace, to walk side-by-side with other disability parents as a coach and mentor. As she built her business plan and conducted market research, the deep community impact of her new venture immediately became clear, with Jenna noting that "it became very apparent that this was what families need—they need someone to be a pathfinder, partner, and trusted guide through their journey."

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?

In her reflections on self-determination, Jenna emphasizes that it is a journey of gradual growth, stating, "Self-determination isn't something that happens overnight. It grows one decision, one question, and one act of courage at a time." For families navigating this path, she offers the following advice:

• Remember that you are the expert on your child.
• Stay organized by keeping evaluations, reports, questions, and resources together to feel prepared for appointments and meetings.
• Ask questions without fear, and keep asking until you fully understand.
• Find your community among other families who have walked a similar path to find encouragement, practical advice, and hope.
• Celebrate progress, even when it looks different than originally expected.

Looking back, she notes that while she never imagined how becoming Benny's mother would completely redirect her life, she is profoundly grateful for the lessons learned and the opportunity to support others. Sheremains a steadfast advocate for inclusion, concluding that her ultimate hope "is that every individual with a disability—and every family walking alongside them—knows that their voice matters, their choices matter, and they deserve every opportunity to live a meaningful and self-determined life.”

What are some of your hobbies?

Outside of work, Jenna enjoys fitness, walking, live music, books, and spending time with her loved ones.

***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.