A Calling, Not Just a Career

  • Smiling woman with long wavy hair wearing a white top and earrings, outdoors with blurred green and yellow foliage.

  • Her story

    Dr. Jessica Thomas Reed’s journey reflects the power of perseverance, purpose, and possibility. Growing up as the youngest of five in a community shaped by adversity and high ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), she transformed challenge into calling. As a first-generation college graduate, she embodies the belief that with support, equity, and opportunity, every student can thrive.

    Her early career, managing group homes, teaching, and mentoring high-risk youth, ignited her lifelong dedication to equity, access, and advocacy. These experiences became the foundation for her mission to create systems where education and wellness intersect, ensuring that every child and family has the tools to succeed.

    Across her leadership journey, Dr. Reed has:

    * Led schools through state and national accreditation.

    Implemented equity-based Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

    * Designed leadership pipelines that mentor and prepare aspiring administrators.

    * Cultivated wellness-based cultures that uplift students, staff, and families.

Academic Foundations

Dr. Reed’s academic achievements mirror her professional impact. A track and field scholarship-athlete at California State University, Sacramento, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, followed by two Master’s Degrees in Education and Educational Leadership. She later completed her Doctorate in Leading Innovative and Diverse Organizations at Touro University California, where she now serves as Program Chair and Adjunct Faculty, preparing and mentoring the next generation of transformative educational leaders. Dr. Reed also serves as the Assistant Director of Student and Family Services for a large school district in California. 

““Education is both a pathway and a promise; One that thrives when we invest in people, not just programs.””
— U.S. President Barack Obama.
A young woman smiling at a graduation ceremony, dressed in a cap and gown, with an older woman standing next to her, also in graduation attire, in a large auditorium filled with seated spectators.

Beyond the Role

A family of four sitting on the grass outdoors, surrounded by tall trees, smiling at the camera.

A proud wife and mother, Dr. Reed balances her leadership journey with family life rooted in faith, service, and community. She and her husband, a police lieutenant, are raising two dynamic sons who are track-and-field Junior Olympians. Their shared commitment to perseverance, teamwork, and wellness echoes the values Dr. Reed brings to every student, staff member, and the communities she serves.

“Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you are put here on earth to do, with such passion and such intensity, that it becomes spiritual in calling.”

— Vincent Van Gogh