Meet the Team: Jennifer Whitt
Her Passion for Education
Even after having children put Jennifer Whitt’s career as a public-school teacher on hold, her desire for educating future generations never ceased. Want to meet someone who knows the teaching business like the back of her hand? Jennifer Whitt is who to talk to.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Lynchburg in Elementary Education in the late 1980’s, Jennifer immediately began her teaching career in Lynchburg City Schools. She begins her career as a kindergarten teacher for a few years which then turns into teaching third grade for the Bedford County School District. Even after her and her husband found out they are expecting their first child, Jennifer consistently pursues her passion through substitute teaching, homebound tutoring, private tutoring, and teaching in several homeschool groups.
“I’ve always loved and gravitated towards students in some shape or form whether paid or not.”
After her children are a bit older, and she had been teaching at Timberlake Christian for several years, Jennifer starts running a local tutoring franchise, which shows her that she didn’t want to be on the “back end” of things but more directly involved with the students. However, this opportunity inspires her to move into higher education helping college students. After taking a position in the School of Education at Liberty, she learns more about the role of a career coach and found that this role perfectly matches her skills and passions.
A Love for Students
Jennifer Whitt’s main goal and priority throughout all her years of teaching has been the same thing; building relationships with students and truly helping them where they may be struggling. After running a few businesses on her own and her extensive number of years in teaching, she knew that she had the knowledge to be able to guide the next generation of teachers.
“I love to come along side students,” Jennifer says, “walk with them, help them gain the tools and resources needed to help themselves.”\
Jennifer says she especially has a passion for helping students “think outside the box,” meaning showing students the number of options they truly have when it comes to career paths and be able to see opportunities that maybe they didn’t even know existed. She says it’s also important for students to realize that a lot of different areas of study have “transferable skills” meaning that many of the skill sets students learn in one major, can be extremely valuable for a career that they might have never of thought of, as she says, “I am a perfect example of that.”
Unsure Future?
Jennifer’s advice to students who don’t know what they want to pursue? Try any and every environment for roles that interest you. These opportunities can be through job shadowing, volunteering, or internships.
She says to not push these opportunities off until the end of college, it’s important, even for freshman, to pursue many different types of internships in a variety of areas to truly figure out what a student might enjoy. Not only through volunteering, job shadowing, and internships are students figuring out what’s a good fit, but these are also opportunities that provide experience and build skills for whatever truly best lines up with a student’s passions. Ultimately, Jennifer would say to any student trying to make decisions about their future, whether that be senior about to graduate or freshman just beginning their college career, prayer is the greatest tool.
Asking God for guidance and wisdom through all the craziness of life is one of the greatest ways for students to find peace during uncertainty. Secondly, Jennifer advises to come to the career center! It’s never too late or early to begin your journey working with the career coaches and to figure out what career path is best for you.
If you are an education student or a student in the school of Arts and Sciences in need of help for the next steps to take for your future, book an appointment today with Jennifer! She would love to listen, guide, and help you with all the tools you need to succeed.
