"Human flourishing is not a mechanical process; it's an organic process. All you can do, like a farmer, is create the conditions under which they will begin to flourish." — Sir Ken Robinson

The Gardener’s Garden: A Digital Portfolio

Welcome to my professional portfolio. I am a Humanities Educator and a Graduate Resident at High Tech High Graduate School of Education. I operate on the belief that every student is unique, possessing an innate drive toward greatness. My mission is to cultivate the optimal environment—grounded in equity, safety, and nourishment—required for that organic growth.

Navigating My Practice

I invite you to explore my work through these three core areas, which bridge over 25 years of educational leadership with the cutting edge of Project-Based Learning (PBL).

• Teaching Philosophy: The why. Learn about the FLEUR model, an instructional framework designed to move students from grounded inquiry to a public exhibition of mastery.

• Learning Environment: The how. Discover the classroom culture I build through Socratic inquiry and restorative practices to create high-rigor, inclusive spaces.

• Student Work: The evidence. View authentic products from my residency, including history passion projects and coastal zines that demonstrate student agency in action.

My Story: A Veteran-Novice Perspective

A lifelong journey of scholarship and service shapes my perspective as an educator. For over 25 years, I have led interdisciplinary programs within the homeschool and church communities—including the foundational experience of homeschooling my own four children. My background is enriched by a global lens, having lived in Belgium, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and two decades as a piano teacher, tailoring personalized instruction for students with diverse learning needs.

Today, as I complete my credentials at High Tech High, I am integrating this veteran’s wisdom into a practice centered on deeper learning and restorative justice. I have always been a sideline coach and a gardener of human potential; my residency is the latest season of that growth.

Jennifer Wallace
Humanities Educator | San Diego County, CA