Jill is the founder and teacher of Green Gables Learning. She grew up in Richmond, Virginia. As an “80’s kid,” she enjoyed riding her bicycle in the neighborhood, taking piano lessons, being on the swim team, and going camping with her family. She was raised with strong values and a sense of community.
Jill began babysitting at the age of eleven, and she has been working with children ever since! Her high school and college years included many opportunities for mission trips and children’s ministry.
Jill graduated from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee in 2001 with a degree in Human Development, state Teacher Licensure Kindergarten through eighth grade, and minors in French, Religion, and Psychology. She completed her french minor the summer before college graduation in Normandy, France through her university's study abroad program.
Student teaching experiences included teaching second grade, working in an autism classroom, and filling a vacancy in a first grade classroom at a Navajo boarding school in Gallup, New Mexico.
Her first teaching position was in Cleveland, Tennessee where she taught special education in Kindergarten through fifth grade. She moved home to Richmond, Virginia to teach Kindergarten for three years in an inner city housing project before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona. There she taught first grade in a refugee community before staying home with her daughter for six years. Returning to the classroom in 2012, she taught Kindergarten and first grade in public and private schools in Loudoun County, Virginia.
In 2020 Jill settled in Western North Carolina and began supporting families in their educational journeys, providing private tutoring, piano lessons, nature & survival skills classes, and day camps. Her expertise lies in the areas of early literacy and math instruction, working with young children in small class settings to provide quality services.
Green Gables Learning was founded in 2021 and has helped meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of countless Western North Carolina families seeking connection, nature experiences, and quality education from a seasoned and highly qualified professional.
Jill received dyslexia and learning differences training through the Academy of Orton-Gillingham, and works with children experiencing specific language disability including dyslexia, dysgraphia, and working memory challenges. She specializes in helping neuro-divergent individuals reach their full potential.
Jill’s passions lie in caring for the needs of the whole child. She is deeply concerned with the well-being of children and instilling a love for nature and the arts. Providing opportunities for human connection and forming deep, joyful relationships brings her great happiness. She loves sharing her favorite classicchildren’s literature, art, and music with her students. She invites guests to visit Green Gables frequently to introduce students to new ideas and talents. Laughter, play, and discovery light her up and keep her going every day!
Her most recent project is her learning collective for elementary age girls. Her mission is to give them a solid academic and social foundation while honoring the uniqueness and purity of girlhood.
