Jessica Lander

Lowell Public Schools

Calling Jessica Lander a teacher is like saying that Bill Gates is a programmer. Although only a few years into a career, she has done more than most of us hope to do in a life time. She teaches in the Lowell public school system and has brought the stories, struggles, and victories of her mostly immigrant students to life in creative and moving fashion. She shares her stories and experiences in a monthly op-ed column for the Globe. She has given a successful TedX Boston talk. What most impressed me was a cookbook, Tasting History, she created with her students that shares recipes from their native countries accompanied by stories of their personal journeys. At a time when public education is floundering much of the country Jessica is showing what impassioned advocates can accomplish. She’s both affecting lives as a practicing teacher and policy with her writing and policy work. A great candidate for a Rosoff Award.