Jessica Kathleen Woodruff was born 35 years ago on July 15th in Huntington, West Virginia. She was the youngest child in a family with a lot of energy focused on children, and being youngest positioned her to be nurtured in a variety of ways. Emily, the oldest, developed her organizing skills by providing lots of opportunities for play for her siblings; Rachael’s nurturing skills were honed as she added Jessica to the retinue of dolls and pets she cared for; and Jess and Ben, being 2 years apart, attained developmental milestones on a parallel track and were very comfortable with each others’ presence. Jessica’s home was filled with much activity. During the early years of her Dad’s union organizing career, many calls for assistance were handled from our dining room. She learned about the challenges many people face in life simply trying to earn a living. She also got to see strategies being developed and implemented to counteract these challenges—skills that would serve her well over the next years of her life. During these years I worked for a child development program and she and Ben both benefitted from innovative programs they participated in there. Being the youngest child with all this activity going on around her, she also spent a lot of time observing and reflecting—skills she would also use throughout her life. Her teenage years were tough on her as her father and I separated and her siblings began to leave home for college. As the house emptied, she spent a year with her grandmother in southern West Virginia and developed a special bond with her. There she attended the same rural high school I had graduated from. She spent her last years of high school with her uncle and aunt in Bluefield. As we discussed the possibility of her doing this, she promised me that even though she was pursuing a very non-traditional course of action, she would make me proud. She took courses at several colleges before moving to Athens to attend Ohio University. She joined her sister Rachael there, jointly taking women’s studies and political science classes that were rich opportunities for debate, growth and reflection. I was working at OU then, and very much enjoyed being part of their developing experiences. During her years there Jessica strengthened her understanding of social justice issues and was able to be supported in her deep desire to feel empowered as a woman. She established many strong friendships in Athens that have anchored her throughout her remaining years. It was also in Athens that she adopted her beloved dogs, Sweet Potato (Tater Boy) and Jade, who remained her most constant companions throughout her life. In 2000 she met her partner, Robyn Moser, with whom she spent the next 8 years and together they adopted one more dog—Chai. After she and Robyn graduated, they headed off for Portland, Oregon where they spent two years working at subsistence jobs and exploring the west coast. On returning back east they settled in Raleigh where Robyn began teaching in the Wake county public schools and Jessica began work as a teaching assistant. While observing Robyn’s innovative classroom practices and getting joy from her own connections with children, Jessica came to the conclusion that teaching was where she could make her mark on the world. At that point she and Robyn both pursued degrees in middle grades language arts at North Carolina State University. Through this study she explored her own connection with middle school education and found it critically lacking. The struggles she had faced provided her with a determination to make a difference for the students whose lives she would have an opportunity to touch. Throughout these years Jessica has always kept very much in touch with her family through family visits and weekly phone calls that were more frequent when we were going through challenging times. Eight years ago Karen and I bought a home in central Virginia on four acres of land – a place we call Earthsong. Because Jessica would not separate herself from Tater Boy, Chai, and Jade, ours was the home that could most easily accommodate that many large dogs – Earthsong was the place Jessica visited – either with other family members, or alone with her dogs. She loved connecting with the earth there—hearing the chickens clucking in the chicken yard, the frogs croaking in the pond, the call of the owl at night, and watching the stars twinkle in the clear night sky. In the morning as she walked her dogs, you could hear her break out in song as she walked down the driveway. She had a beautiful singing voice and it was a joy to hear her express herself through song. Two years ago Jessica and Robyn separated – a painful experience for all of us. However, through the loss she was determined to become strong. She moved back to Portland and spent a year reflecting and nurturing herself. She and I spent an amazing week together on the return trip to this side of the country – driving her van back to Virginia with her three dogs piled onto her mattress and few worldly possessions. We spent part of a day in an ancient Redwood forest, played with the dogs in the Pacific Ocean, and found an amazing little restaurant in Laramie where we were forced to take refuge during a blinding May snowstorm. On her return, Jessica was very excited to get a job teaching 7th grade Language Arts at Centennial Middle School on the campus of N.C. State. She was happy to once again follow her passion for teaching. She rented an apartment in Raleigh, connected with old friends there, and began her new life. During this past painful week Karen, Emily, Robyn and I have been able to spend time in the home Jessica created and visit her classroom. In both places her presence was very keenly felt. Her classroom shelves were covered with creative, engaging activities and wonderful books with inviting themes to explore. There were plants, bright fabrics, and the walls were covered with posters challenging status quo thinking. Her fellow teachers spoke of the amazing energy and intentionality she brought into the classroom and her students had left us cards expressing their impression of her as a teacher. Her apartment was filled with beautiful colors and smells of herbal essences, her kitchen contained what she had used to create those “yummy” meals she used to call us and tell us she was making, and her friends talked with us about the real sense of self she carried in all that she did. Her dogs were very happy to see us, and are adjusting to their new surroundings. So, yes, Jessica. You have made me proud. You’ve been a challenger of each one of us to rise to the occasions we needed to rise to. And you have been the thread that’s connected us as a family, loving us unconditionally. Our task now is to take that love and keep it active and alive. Thank you for the 35 years you gave us. Thank you for your wonderful spirit. May your next journey be as amazing!