Staff Shout Outs- Meet Jen Messer from Pence Elementary
Jen stated, “I am both humbled and honored that my colleague nominated me for the school shout out. Thank you”.
Jen went on to say she sincerely LOVES LOVES LOVES working at Pence and in the FCSD. After working many many years in business in big cities, she is happy that she was able to come back to her hometown of Fairfield and spend her days at Pence.
Jen began working as a Paraeducator in January of 2017, but had worked part-time prior to that as her kids grew up and graduated from FHS (Derek and Samantha Byrnes).
Jen reminsied about some students and her impact. A student Jen had in class last year as a 2nd grader recently wrote a note to Jen that said, “Thank you for helping me in the past to “lern” how to control my emotional self for my "fucher". Thanks again.”Jen has that hanging in her office at home along with other notes and drawings from the kids as inspiration. :) When students come and say “Ms. Jen..so and so said, I am fat, so and so said I’m ugly, so and so said I’m mean”, Jen’s first question is, “Is it true?” she gets down on their level, eye to eye and listens. Then they talk about “What is true?”. No, you’re not fat, you are strong and mighty, and then she sees a student at recess flexing his muscles for his friends. Or Jen sees another student with a new sparkle in her eyes instead of sad tears, no longer believing she is ugly, but beautiful. And the one that was “mean”, she got quiet and actually began to be nicer! These stories go on and on, and it TRULY is the reason Jen is here. Making a difference one child, one story at a time so that THEIR stories have happy endings! Jen is beyond grateful to come alongside the dedicated teachers and amazing staff to help our students to see and KNOW their potential. THAT is true!
Jen and her husband started camping this year in their RV, traveling to local and state parks, enjoying nature, leisurely rocking in their lawn chairs by campfires, kayaking, hiking and bike riding. They also enjoy riding on their Harley, usually just to travel the Iowa countryside or a quick trip to Keosauqua to Misty’s Malt Shop for a strawberry shake and mozzarella cheese sticks.
Jen’s son, Derek (UNI grad), construction manager with plans to open his own business, Byrnes Builders, LLC, and his fiancee, Kara, attorney, will be married January 29th this coming year.They live in Jacksonville, Florida. Jen’s daughter, Samantha (UNI grad), nurse, and son-in-law, Chase, architect, who is currently studying seminary through Moody Bible Institute, and her adorable, wonderful, precious (her sister Julie Hanshaw had Jen add those accolades!) grandson Beckham also live in Jacksonville, Florida.
In Jen’s free time, she keeps busy restoring the home they own. It has been her on-going project through the years, her “real live art canvas” you could say. Jen loves to take something broken or in need of repair and make it the best she can! She is enrolled in the Jerry B. Jenkins, “Your Novel Blueprint” course. Jen’s lifetime goal is to finish the novel she began entitled “Good Enough”, a novel inspired by true events through the eyes of the main character, Amber. Amber’s life, enmeshed in abusive relationships, is relentless in her determination to overcome. She never thought she was “good enough”, believing the lies she was told (much like our students…),but as God finds her hiding in the corner of her room, she begins to recognize lies from truth, and her journey to wholeness can begin.
Jen is a part of a Monday night ladies’ interdenominational bible study group, and we are studying the book of Exodus by Jen Wilkins. Lastly, Jen has two very good friends that meet on Friday mornings for prayer as a part of Moms in Prayer (MIP) International Moms In Prayer | Prayer Network | Christian Community. Women all over the world meet in small groups to pray for each other and adopt schools in their areas to pray specifically for that district, specific school. GO TROJANS! “We’re behind you all the way, Fairfield Trojans, onward TO VICTORY!”
A colleague sent in this note about Jenn and asked her to be our district shout-out.
“Jenn is a huge asset to our classroom! She is patient, strong, caring, and incredibly helpful. I am appreciative of Jenn's positive energy, which she brings to the classroom each morning. All students in our classroom love to see Ms. Jenn's face everyday and always miss her when she is moved for any reason. Thank you for choosing to show up for our class each day!” Another colleagues stated, “She is so deserving!!
Jenn, Thank you for what you do each and every day for the students at Pence. We appreciate you!