About Mrs. J

About Mrs. J 

Hi, I’m Jessica Jendrzejek (pronounced “gender-shek” but please just call me Mrs. J).  I use she/her pronouns. The 2026-2027 school year is my fourteenth year teaching first grade.  I am honored to be a part of Capitol Hill Elementary School, truly a great place to grow! 

I live in Tigard with my husband, our son and daughter, and our dog, Hazelnut.  Originally from Northern California, I moved to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College, where I majored in music and went on to earn my Masters in Teaching in Elementary Education. I love gardening, kayaking, watching British TV shows, throwing themed birthday parties for my kids, and exploring the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 

I believe...

Making mistakes is the key to learning! I foster a learning environment that encourages students to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. We will learn a lot about having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset, and all about the power of YET!

Social emotional learning is equally as important as the academic subjects. Students need to have skills and strategies to cope with big feelings and tough challenges that arise, especially these days. We will incorporate SEL (social emotional learning) throughout this year.

Black Lives Matter. Racism has no place in my classroom. In class, we support and value each other, think critically, and become change makers.