Welcome, Jessica Truran!

Jessica Truran
First Grade Teacher

Tell us about yourself. 
Growing up, school was my safe place. My father was in the military, and our family moved quite a bit, so the classroom was my familiar territory! Currently, my family has settled in South Jersey, and I live with my husband and rabbit in North Jersey. I am currently working on an M. Ed., and love to learn new things about all sorts of fields — education, environmentalism, health care, psychology, etc. When I find myself with free time, I enjoy reading and being outdoors.

How did God bring you to work at EC?
As an undergraduate, I never planned to teach in a Christian school! I attended Nyack College to pursue a degree in education so that I could move overseas and work as a missionary. Little did I know, the Lord had other plans for me. I met my husband in college and planned to work as an elementary teacher, but I was afraid to get started in the classroom after studying under some disillusioned educators. I began my career in the education department of a public garden, where I was able to teach my students about the wonder of Creation. Later, I took a position in administration at a preschool where I practiced conflict resolution and communication. In both of these positions, I felt my heart aching for the classroom again, and I eventually found myself teaching first grade at Ringwood Christian School. In Christian education, I found my perfect fit! I love the combination of academic rigor and a strong Scriptural foundation that comes with teaching in a Christian school. Knowing and serving my students with deep, abiding love is a great gift. After two years at RCS, God brought me to EC, where I am thrilled to continue teaching my favorite grade. I am also a student myself this year, pursuing my M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction: Trauma and Resilience in Educational Settings. I am excited to apply this newfound knowledge to my practice as a teacher in order to better serve my students.

What sets EC apart?
Eastern Christian is unparalleled in its commitment to serving the whole student — mind, body, and spirit. I will never forget the moment I walked into an elementary classroom while touring the school for the first time, and a student immediately approached me to introduce herself and tell me about the activity her class was working on. This would only occur in an environment in which learners are challenged and supported to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. It is clear that EC is committed to honoring God by serving its students. The more I learn about the EC family, the more excited I am to join!