Jessica Downey

About Jessica Downey

Jessica Downey is currently an assistant principal at Benjamin Elementary School in Normal, IL. She has been working in education for nine years, beginning as a 6th-grade teacher before transitioning to 4th-grade, and now working in educational administration. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Illinois State University and two Master of Arts degrees also from Illinois State; one in Reading and the other in Educational Administration.

As an assistant principal, Jessica has the opportunity to build positive relationships with students, staff, and families. She helps lead the Positive Behavior System team at her school and focuses on how to help each student be successful both academically and personally. Jessica challenges herself and seeks ways to improve her effectiveness in instruction, management, and behavior. During her time in the classroom, Jessica mentored first-year teachers and student teachers. She is passionate about learning and growing, and wants to work with other educators in continuing this journey.

In addition to working at Benjamin and The Connecting Link, Jessica lives in the country with her husband and dog, Bailey. She enjoys spending time outside with her family and dog, running, and reading in the backyard.

From Conflict to Connection: Empowering Discipline Strategies for Educators

This course empowers educators to transform discipline from a reactive process to a proactive opportunity for connection and growth. Participants will explore research-based strategies to de-escalate conflict, foster student accountability, and create a culture of respect. Grounded in the work of researchers such as Dr. Ross Greene (The Explosive Child) and Dr. Bruce Perry (The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog), participants will explore how behavioral challenges are often manifestations of unmet needs and lagging skills—not intentional defiance. The course integrates principles of restorative justice (as advanced by Howard Zehr) to reframe misbehavior as an opportunity for growth and relationship-building. Educators will analyze discipline systems, recognize the role of equity and trauma, and design practices that build student relationships and restore trust. A toolkit of practices will be developed to foster safe, responsive, and equitable learning environments. By the end of this course, educators will be equipped with practical, research-based strategies to replace punitive discipline with relational, restorative approaches that prioritize connection, accountability, and student dignity. Participants will design an implementation plan or presentation that demonstrates their ability to apply student-centered practices to real-world classroom or schoolwide challenges. Through this comprehensive approach, educators will be empowered to build trust, repair harm, and create inclusive learning environments where every student feels seen, supported, and capable of success. Throughout the course, participants will engage in interactive dialogue through a variety of mediums to receive valuable feedback to reflect on from their instructor. All formative and summative projects are reviewed and graded, and feedback from the instructor will be provided, allowing the participant to enhance their portfolio of educational tools/resources to impact their classroom or school community.

Course #: IMW26006
Dates: 02/02/26 - 03/01/26
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