Hi everyone!

I’m Jen Sakurada, and I’m so excited to be the new Math Interventionist and Algebra 1 teacher here at Woodrow Wilson Academy. This year, I have the opportunity to work with students from kindergarten through 8th grade, helping them build their math skills and, most importantly, their confidence. My favorite part of this job is watching that moment when a student goes from saying, “I can’t do this,” to “I got this!”

A little about me—this is my ninth year teaching and my sixth year in math intervention. Before becoming a teacher, I actually worked in the film industry in Los Angeles for almost 10 years, doing financing and contract writing with our international distributors. Eventually, I returned home to Colorado to be closer to family. I decided to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a teacher and attended CU Boulder to get my Teaching License. I also earned my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction (with a STEM focus) there. Most recently, I went back to school at CU Denver, where I completed the Principal Licensure Program. After some encouragement from my professors, I am continuing my education, now working on my doctorate in Leadership for Educational Organizations.

When I’m not at school, I’m usually spending time with my niece and my nephew, who I love to spoil. I spend as much time as I can with family and friends. I love to travel, especially visiting New York City.

I can’t wait to get to know each of you and make this year a great one for math learning and growth!

The mission of Woodrow Wilson Academy is to provide an educational environment that nurtures, excites, and motivates children to learn. We believe academic excellence is achieved by pairing our content-rich Core Knowledge curriculum with essential skills like creative thinking, risk taking, and group problem solving. Our program is a partnership with the classroom, providing a safe space where students can explore their full potential among like minded peers.

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At WWA, our program follows a dual approach to support both our identified gifted learners and those with high potential in specific areas.

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For students with a formal Gifted and Talented identification, we develop an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP). This plan is a roadmap for growth tailored to each student’s unique strengths, driven by the student's personal interests.   Every ALP includes an "affective" goal chosen by the student to support their social-emotional needs. Goals are monitored throughout the year by both the GT Coordinator and classroom teachers. 

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We believe enrichment should be available to any student who shows the potential for high level achievement. Each month, we offer rotating enrichment groups for students recommended by their teachers. These groups focus on diverse skills, and provide a supportive environment where students feel safe to seek multiple solutions to a problem and take intellectual risks.

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Just like every school in Jefferson County, we follow district and state guidelines to ensure our students are meeting their ALP goals. We also recognize that some students may qualify for Jeffco GT Center Schools.  While not all students with an ALP require a center school placement, we strive to meet the needs of all our learners within the academic structure of WWA.

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We are committed to helping your child reach their highest potential. For more information regarding Advanced Learning Plans, or our enrichment groups, please contact our GT & Enrichment Coordinator.

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