Jessica Chapman makes learning exciting and accessible for all students in her social studies classroom at Norwich Free Academy (NFA). NFA is home to a diverse student body, representing over 30 different primary languages spoken at home and 9% of students born outside of the U.S. Many of Chapman’s students are new to the country and/or have experienced some level of interrupted learning. Chapman differentiates instruction masterfully to reach beginning multilingual learners (ML) and seniors earning college credit alike. Students explore sociology, modern world history, and global studies and citizenship with the rigor of college-level expectations. Through project-based learning, scholarly research, writing strategies, policy proposals, and high-level discourse, Chapman creates a nurturing classroom environment and sparks in students a curiosity and inquiry about their place in the world and how to hone their responsibility as global citizens.
Enrollment in Chapman’s college preparatory sociology course doubled thanks to her new curriculum that allows dual-enrollment students to earn college credit through the University of Connecticut’s Early College Experience program. Several students no longer see college as a “pipe dream,” but well within their grasp. Chapman’s peers benefit from her commitment to the school where she serves as a teacher mentor, student teacher supervisor, PLC leader for senior electives, ML summer academy leader, and professional development coach. Harnessing her experiences teaching in El Salvador for a year, Chapman developed an educational workshop for her colleagues on navigating the arrival of new students from Central America, and how to better serve expanding populations of learners.
Chapman continues to lead outside the walls of her classroom; she serves as a senior class advisor and organizes milestone activities like a class trip, prom and graduation; coaches the varsity girls golf team; and develops mental health, sportsmanship and collegiate athletic programming for the Varsity N club as a co-advisor.
Chapman completed her Bachelor of Arts in history and social science in 2011 from Eastern Connecticut State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Sacred Heart University in 2013, and a Sixth-Year degree in educational leadership from Quinnipiac University in 2024.
Press Release: Surprise! Norwich Teacher Jessica Chapman Becomes Nation's Next Milken Educator
