Jennifer DeCew

About Jennifer

Jenny DeCew's true desire to teach began when she was a young adult, and she first saw learning in action. DeCew worked as a guide and mentor for at-risk girls in the wilderness setting. What she saw in these girls was the ability to gain the self-confidence and self-awareness to succeed. There, DeCew saw that learning is about guiding and facilitating, as students construct their own understanding of the world around them.

DeCew is originally from Ohio but spent most of her adult life in rural communities in Maine. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Maine at Machias. This experience at a small university taught DeCew the importance of a hands-on education. After several different working experiences in aquaculture, she realized her dream of teaching, and got her master’s degree in education from Western Governor's University. DeCew started her teaching career at Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias, Maine and ended up for 6 years at Sipayik Elementary School in Perry, Maine teaching primarily middle school math. She moved to Traverse City, MI in 2023 to pursue her career in high school mathematics at Greenspire High School.

DeCew's ultimate goals as a teacher are to instill in her students a sense of self-confidence and self-awareness in learning, especially around math, teach them to work collaboratively, and be community-oriented citizens, as well as giving them the tools they need to be life-long learners.

In her off time, DeCew enjoys walking, biking, camping, and enjoying the city with her wife, Kim, and their 5-pound Yorkipoo, Luka! She also enjoys creating cards and paper flowers with her Cricut machine. She plays classical violin and was a part of the Passamaquoddy Bay Symphony Orchestra in Eastport, Maine.