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.

Trauma, Stress, and Anxiety in Schools: Finding Hope and Building Resilience

Poverty, suicide, abuse, divorce, and community violence are some of the many traumatic, yet common, life experiences and events students of today’s society face. In addition, factors including social media and high stakes testing have been linked to the increasing rates of stress and anxiety among youth. This insightful course provides practical applications on how to understand, connect with, and accommodate students and their families experiencing the adverse effects of trauma, stress, and anxiety. Participants will research the short and long-term outcomes associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), learn how to incorporate effective trauma-informed practices, and build relationships with students and their families based on respect, trust, and empathy. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stress management, suicide prevention awareness, students living in poverty, and educational procedures used to respond to traumatic events are additional topics accentuated in this course. Finally, educators will focus on their own well-being and discover ways to strengthen resilience and manage stress and anxiety associated with the soaring demands of the profession. Course participants will become better equipped to effectively respond to students’ complex needs.

Course #: IMS26514
Dates: 06/15/26 - 06/28/26
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