Jenny Wagner

After graduating from Mount Mercy, Jenny began working at Kennedy in 2004 as a special education teacher. In 2012, she transitioned to her role as the at-risk interventionist working to support freshmen through our Check and Connect student engagement program. Her leadership with MVP began in 2016, and the school celebrates three years of implementation. To help infuse MVP in other areas within the school culture, she contributes to her building leadership team (High-Reliability Schools), learning supports team, district wellness council, and as the staff sponsor of the Gay-Straight Alliance student club. 

Favorite quote or book:
"I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else." --Winston Churchill

Hobbies:
Exercising, cooking/baking, reading, working at a coffee shop

Areas of study:
At-risk population

Advice for student mentors:
If I were to only give one piece of advice to student mentors it would be to feel safe knowing there is no one right answer or expected outcome you must reach in every conversation with mentees. In MVP, we ask questions, explore our values and needs, discuss options and opportunities, and gain insight and tools for prevention but we are not bound to a One Size Fits All model. Embrace authentic and natural MVP conversations as they develop. 

Favorite part of MVP:
In no other program, course, or club does a school address violence prevention at the secondary level. MVP fills a gap that has potentially dangerous consequences for our children if we don't make it a priority.