To those who know him, what comes next will be as little to no surprise, as the following statement has never been truer for any human I’ve known (and I’ve been privileged to know Jesse a long time.) To those who have not had the gift of his acquaintance, I open with this:

To know Jesse is to love him. And everyone who knows Jesse, knows the powerful and gentle force of kindness, thoughtfulness, and unfathomable good that he is.

Jesse has been a longtime educator and a passionate advocate for empathetic and respectful teaching at every age, valuing and honoring the journey of the individual while uplifting their role in a community, so it is no surprise that three years ago after a myriad of work in various educational roles, Jesse began work as an assistant in a Montessori setting and fell in love with the philosophy of Maria Montessori. Jesse currently works as a classroom assistant at Stepping Stones Montessori School in Grand Rapids MI, and has made the decision to return to school at the Northwest Montessori Institute in Portland, Oregon, for his guide certification. This 18-month long process will include virtual and on-site training that will enable him to be a certified AMI Montessori Guide.

Both Jesse and I work in education, he in an elementary Montessori school, and I at a local art and design college. We both believe deeply in the philosophy and lifestyle of Montessori, especially as it has benefited our daughter so incredibly in her education, not solely academic, but in fostering her social and emotional understand of herself, her peers, and her community. Montessori training is more affordable than returning to school for a bachelor’s or a master’s, but will still require a sizable amount of funds to complete.

We do not anticipate fully funding the current goal, nor is it the complete cost of training; we will humbly and gratefully accept and utilize whatever donations we receive to go directly towards Jesse’s tuition costs, travel costs to Portland, required AMI membership fees, room and board while on-site, and any other associated costs of completion. We are so, so grateful that Jesse has found a career, a calling, and a vocation that he truly believes in and simply put, is exceptionally suited for. He is adored by his students, his coworkers, his friends, and of course, his family. For me and Margaret, he is our number one hero and we are his biggest fans. It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness* — and we cannot wait to see his journey unfold and to continue to watch and experience the light he brings into the world.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for reading, for being here, and for any and all help you can give. We love you, Jesse!

*Quote attributed to the late, great, and most beloved family inspirer, Sir Terry Pratchett