About Me
Hello, my name is Jessica Bickford. I am a Montana native who has been living and working in Portland for over 15 years. After graduating from the University of Montana with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Reading Endorsement, I started my teaching career by managing after school programs. This helped me realize that learning has to be fun. Students who come in after school are tired and burnt out from the day. It was my job to help them find something engaging and academic. This love of play helped me continue my teaching journey.
Next, I worked in many different Montessori classrooms around Portland. I love the Montessori method of teaching and how it allows students to follow their interests. It is so important to help students learn by finding out what they like and are passionate about. This keeps them engaged and motivated.
After working in the Montessori world for 10 years, I decided to go back to school. I noticed that so many of our students could not read at grade level. Having low literacy was affecting every part of these students' academic and social development. Low literacy leads to behavior problems, self-esteem issues, and sets the student back from their peers. I knew that I wanted to help students access their true potential. I decided to attend Pacific University and received my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Dyslexia and other Reading Disorders. This program is based on Orton-Gillingham principles. I started to take more professional development classes geared toward literacy development, assessment, and identification.
I am currently working as a part-time Reading Interventionist for Portland Public Schools. I am also tutoring many students ranging from Kindergarten through High School in reading and writing. I love helping students and families discover their true potential.