JESSICA KJAR
Syracuse,UT
Summary
Accomplished Education Specialist with 4 years of expertise in guiding child development by serving as inspirational figure and encouraging role model to students with diverse needs. Expert in leading and supporting children overcoming challenges by continually assessing students formally and informally, identifying behavior issues and adapting lessons in creative ways to highlight learning strengths. Committed to providing orderly atmosphere, calm environment, safety and structure in classroom while teaching children how to adapt to surroundings.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
CARES Education Specialist
Utah State School Board
05.2021 - 06.2024
- Lead the development of grant applications in collaboration with USBE leadership for federal relief funding, including the recent American Rescue Plan Act award of over $615,000,000
- Plan and facilitate technical support for LEAs and other Utah K-12 organizations in their application for federal COVID-19 relief funding
- Support, train and provide resources for LEAs related to their use of federal funds, including training on allowable expenditures and reimbursement documentation
- Oversee external application process in the Utah Grants Management system, including application review, revision, budget revision, reimbursement, and monitoring processes
- Continue to engage in current research and best practices from the national field on K-12 educational responses to COVID-19
- Collaborate with the USBE staff to achieve Coronavirus Response initiatives, including designing and facilitating professional learning for building leaders
- Serve on COVID-19 relief-related USBE committees and workgroups
- Represent USBE on COVID-19 relief-related external committees and work groups (ex
- Broadband Working Group and CARES Coordination committee.) Present to the Utah State Board of Education on updates in spending and project authorization specific to federal COVID-19 relief funding
- Work with stakeholders and USBE staff to administer state reserve funding, including performing basic accounting, budgeting, and procurement duties, including contacting of vendors
- Lead the agency effort as the grant program manager for the high school rapid COVID-19 partnership with the Utah Department of Health
- This includes administration of the LEA grant and procurement of state personal protective equipment (PPE) on behalf of the LEAs
- Maintain compliance for Federal, State and Local rules and code
- All other duties assigned.
Judicial Assistant
Second District Court, Weber County
01.2019 - 07.2020
- Office and case management of over 1000 cases
- Court house public relations and communications
- Customer Service Management
- Interdepartmental Planning and Scheduling
- Record keeping and speed typing of entry of cases handled.
Elections Specialist
Weber County Elections Office
06.2018 - 12.2018
- Coordination of county-wide election process
- Public relations and customer service
- Department Management, Volunteer Management, Staff Management
- Maintained relationships with legislators and tracked financial appropriation requests
- Event creation and production of large and small events
- Other duties as assigned.
Elections Intern
Weber County Elections Office
06.2017 - 03.2018
- Tracked and maintained all legislative actions
- Elections center public relations and voter communications
- Voter rolls management, customer service management, equipment and ballot management
- All other duties assigned.
Legislative Assistant
Office of Representative Gage Froerer
03.2015 - 06.2017
- Management of legislative initiatives, constituent correspondence/services, public relations, media strategy, media relations, travel scheduling, part-time interns and several winning campaigns
- Writing talking points, press releases and marketing strategy of legislation
- Facilitate/Maintain relationships with interested parties and lobbyists
- Running of campaign strategy, fundraising, events, media strategy, recruitment campaign, relationships, and staff
- Work with local and state governments to advocate for goal
- Event creation, management/production for large scale events.
Store Manager
Claire's Stores Inc.
03.2010 - 12.2015
- Managed inventory, employee development, customer service standards, all operations, payroll, accounting and scheduling
- Trained and hired all new employees to company standards
- Maintained and exceeded sales goals
- Developed plans to increase sales on lower departments
- Implemented anti-theft measures.
Legislative Intern
Office of Representative Gage Froerer
01.2015 - 03.2015
- Management of legislative initiatives, constituent correspondence/services, public relations, media strategy, media relations, travel scheduling, part-time interns and several winning campaigns
- Writing talking points, press releases and marketing strategy of legislation
- Facilitate/Maintain relationships with interested parties and lobbyists
- Running of campaign strategy, fundraising, events, media strategy, recruitment campaign, relationships, and staff
- Work with local and state governments to advocate for goal
- Event creation, management/production for large scale events.
Education
Bachelor of Political Science -
Weber State University
Ogden, UTSkills
- Audience Development
- Team development
- Media/marketing strategy
- Digital Marketing
- Organization
- Oral communication
- Networking
- Written Communication
- Microsoft Office
- Dropbox
- Google Apps
- Keynote
- Public Speaking
- PR
- Press/Media Management
- Video editing & production
- Project-based learning
- Literacy development
- Leadership trained
- Project management specialist
- Community advocate
- Budgeting understanding
- Student Engagement
- Activity Planning
- Assessment tools
- Program Management
Awards
- Political Leadership in several organizations
- Advocate of the year for the Epilepsy Association of Utah
- 1000+ volunteer hours at the American Cancer Society, United Way, Epilepsy Association of Utah and Weber County
Timeline
CARES Education Specialist
Utah State School Board
05.2021 - 06.2024
Judicial Assistant
Second District Court, Weber County
01.2019 - 07.2020
Elections Specialist
Weber County Elections Office
06.2018 - 12.2018
Elections Intern
Weber County Elections Office
06.2017 - 03.2018
Legislative Assistant
Office of Representative Gage Froerer
03.2015 - 06.2017
Legislative Intern
Office of Representative Gage Froerer
01.2015 - 03.2015
Store Manager
Claire's Stores Inc.
03.2010 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Political Science -
Weber State University
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