Jess Willows has had a long career as a teacher in the Gulf Islands School District, and she has been involved with professional development (PD) for teachers, offering workshops and serving as the district chair for many years. Jess completed a PhD in Educational Leadership and is currently teaching in her local community school. She has lived her whole life on the west coast, is of settler ancestry and is currently living on the unceded territories of the SENĆOŦEN and Hul'q'umi'num-speaking peoples.