Familiar Face, New Role
If you’ve attended a professional learning experience or participated in a DIEEC initiative over the last few years, chances are you’ve met Jessica DeWese. As a former Professional Development Coordinator, Jessica has spent the past several years delivering key DIEEC initiatives like Let’s GROW Outside!, Let’s Go Outside, Pyramid Model, Early Language and Literacy, and Zero to Three. Now, she’s stepping into a new role as DIEEC’s Outreach Manager, where her primary focus is on listening to the needs of programs and educators, and connecting them to the supports that meet those needs.
I became interested in this role as a way of leveraging my perspective and experience working closely with Delaware’s educators through professional development. I understand the opportunities DIEEC offers, and I see my new role as a way to build relationships and strategies that make our resources and support even more accessible, relevant and impactful across the field.- JD
What Does The Outreach Manager Do?
Outreach is more than just sharing information; it’s about building an ecosystem of support. Jessica’s role is designed to:
- Listen First: Create opportunities for early childhood education (ECE) professionals to share their triumphs and their challenges, so that we can celebrate their wins and connect them to resources that support their needs.
- Raise awareness: Help programs navigate the wide array of DIEEC supports available to them, and find the right resources to meet their needs.
- Build Community: Organize initiatives like Children’s Book Week guest reader visits, represent DIEEC at conferences and community events, and contribute to ongoing conversations with our partners in the field.
Ultimately, Jessica serves as a link between the research-based expertise of DIEEC and the daily realities of Delaware’s early childhood education programs. By fostering relationships with programs, educators, and partners in the field, she helps ensure that DIEEC’s support isn’t just available- it’s accessible, relevant, and grounded in the needs of the educators we serve.
Two Truths and a Wish
To introduce herself to the community in a fun, meaningful way, Jessica shared a game she often uses to break the ice with educators: Two Truths and a Wish.
The Truths
1. I love finding creative ways to make learning feel fun and meaningful.
2. I’ve had the chance to connect with so many amazing educators in my career in early childhood education.
The Wish
I’m really looking forward to building even more connections with all of you and finding new ways to support and share ideas together.
Connecting with Jessica
Jessica won’t be spending all of her days behind a desk- you may see her out and about visiting programs just to say hello and see the wonderful work you are doing firsthand. These informal visits are all about relationship-building; she is there to learn from you and discover how DIEEC can best support your unique needs. She wants to hear from you so that your perspective is reflected in the work we do.
We are thrilled to have Jessica leading DIEEC’s outreach program. Her ability to build bridges and listen with intention will be an asset to Delaware’s ECE community, and we look forward to the many ways she will help our programs and, in turn, our children flourish!
The early childhood field is made up of creative and resourceful educators who work to promote positive outcomes for children and families every day. I am excited to be a resource and partner with these educators in their mission to make a difference.- JD
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