Get to know Jen Dickey, visiting professor of education

Jen Dickey had successful careers in human resources and elementary-school teaching, as well as her own small business, prior to joining the Wartburg faculty in 2022.

“As the parent of a neurodivergent learner, I loved the idea of teaching the next generation of teachers about the challenges they might face in the classroom,” Dickey said. “The number of children who think and learn differently is growing. I model my own classroom using techniques they can use in their classroom someday to help all kinds of learners.”

This means that in addition to traditional lectures and discussions, Dickey’s students might integrate movement into their learning through a gallery walk or start each class period with a look at the syllabus to incorporate time management into their work.

“I love creating new courses and finding ways to incorporate dynamic learning,” she said.

“And I love that Wartburg encourages us to work with community partners because those experiences really enrich the education that our students receive.” 

Finding Her Calling

“I was a compensation analyst for a business in Denver, Colo., but I knew that I was missing out on something. Denver Public Schools needed summer reading volunteers, and it was that experience that made me realize I missed my calling.”

Visual Storytelling

“I probably spent my first two years’ salary as a classroom teacher on picture books. Whatever I was teaching, whether it was social studies or science or reading, I liked to use picture books as an anchor. I’ve even read picture books to my third-year students here, and they could get something from the life lessons and themes of the books.”

Growing Executive Function

“After COVID, I started seeing gaps in my own children’s development, and in talking with other parents about gaps they were seeing in emotional regulation, time management, and task initiation, I launched Lotus Cognitive Solutions to focus on executive function building in kids and adults.”

Hexagonal Thinking

“This hexagonal thinking quilt is a visual reminder of the learning my students did while in Denver, Colo., for their May Term experience. We spent nearly two weeks in a culturally diverse elementary school learning how the teachers and administrators were creating a space where all students could learn and feel cared for.”

Family Matters

“I love taking time out with my family to get away and unplug. We like road trips where we aren’t over-scheduled and can go for a hike or just play cards at the picnic table. I often find that is also when my creative juices come flooding back, and I get great ideas for what I want to implement in the next year.”