JENNIFER CARUSO

Jen Caruso brings over twenty years of experience as a coach and teacher leader for teachers, leaders, social workers, and other education specialists. She is one of the founders and leaders of Leap.

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Prior to starting Leap, she served as Co-Senior Director of the Middle School Math Team for Navigator where she led the team to a 70% increase in partnership and coached and onboarded new coaches on the team.  For three years, she was a math coach for the Navigator program, where she coached partners to support their implementation of Achievement First’s math curriculum.

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Previously, Jen worked on the founding team of  Achievement First Amistad High School, where she held several leadership positions including Dean of Students, Academic Dean, and Dean of Special Services. During her tenure, Amistad’s AP Biology scores consistently were in the top the Achievement First Network and for two years those scores had the highest passage rate for Black and Brown students across Connecticut. Jen created systems for tracking and communicating promotion in doubt (PID), attendance, and special service compliance that dramatically reduced attrition and were used throughout the Achievement First Network.

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Jen taught High School Physical Science and Biology for three years in Minnesota. Jen started her career as a Teach for America corps member (NYC ‘00) where she taught Middle School Science in New York City for three years. Jen lives in Connecticut with her husband, three children, and puppy. In her free time, you will often find her cheering loudly on the sidelines of a sporting event or going on an adventure with her family.