Valerie was a Jumpstart Corps member at the University of Massachusetts Boston from 1999-2002. After four years of serving as a Corps member, Valerie knew that she was destined to teach.
Currently, Valerie is an adaptive physical education coach for children aged three to seven. She is still connected to her Jumpstart partner child, Adrian, who is now 20-years-old. Over the years, they’ve enjoyed going to the zoo when Adrian was younger, attending sporting events, and spending time with Adrian’s family.
“If there is one thing that I remember from my Jumpstart days, it’s to never say ‘good job.’ Jumpstart taught me to identify the strengths in every child and tell them what they are doing well and what specifically they need to work on. Jumpstart changed my course in life – Jumpstart taught me how to be a teacher.”
