Meet Ms. Ma’ilo
Hi! I’m Jessica Ma’ilo, and I’ve been an educator since 2008. My practice is grounded in culturally sustaining pedagogy and focused on multicultural education. Visit any of the modules below to learn more about my teacher identity and what I will bring to your school.
Philosophy
Learn what informs my classroom, teaching and relationships with students, families and staff.
Classroom
The learning environment is just as important as content. See what influences my classroom layout.
Projects
Take a peek at some favorite projects from my classroom!
Community
Explore how I build community with my students, as well as those outside of our four walls.
Experience
See career bullet points and request my full resume and references.
References
Hear from colleagues, supervisors, students and families I’ve worked with throughout the years.
My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that all students learn more authentically and fearlessly in a space that fosters community, trust and inclusion. I accomplish this by focusing my teaching and classroom components on culturally sustaining pedagogy, multicultural education and building strong relationships.
Students come into the classroom with years of life experience and tradition that have shaped who they are at that moment. My job as their educator is to validate and understand those ways of being within my classroom and to know how they effect how each student learns, behaves and thrives. Upon learning these important facets of their being, it is then my responsibility to ensure they are included in curriculum, materials and discussions within our learning space.
In addition to recognizing and supporting existing cultures in our classroom, multicultural education also requires that we explore those that are not represented. Students will go out into the world and meet and interact with all different kinds of people. The experiences they have in the classroom may be the only education they receive outside of their cultures, and I would be remiss if they weren’t respectful and somewhat knowledgeable about such things.
The implementation of these ideals in a classroom organically lead to strong realtionships with students. When they know I care about them, their families and who they are at their cores, we are able to enter into the academic realm of the classroom with trust, curiousity and a much higher success rate.
Creating a Learning Space
Cooperative Learning
When possible, I prefer to have students work in pods to encourage engagement with each other throughout the learning process. Of course, social distancing and COVID precautions can dictate positioning, as well as students who prefer to sit alone.
Color Scheme & Decor
I include mostly cool, calming colors in our learning space to promote mindfulness, peace and serenity. In addition, I keep clutter to a minimum and only display things that are useful or aesthetically calming to avoid sensory overload.
Nature
Pulling the natural world into a classroom, especially one without access to outside light, is a wonderful way to keep a space feeling fresh. Plants, pets and bright bouquets can make a room more inviting, especially when worked into a lesson, like these rainbow flowers!
Student Centered
While I spend most of my day in a classroom and want to love the space, the students are most important. Including student work, photos, interests and cultures in a classroom are integral. Additionally, their input into the functioning spaces of the room is always welcome.
Class Projects
Engaging Students
I love hands-on, student-led learning. Below are a few of my favorite projects, and to the side are some images from some of those, as well as other experiences. Click on the images to expand the picture.
Class Businesses
One of my absolute favorite units is student small businesses. I split my class into three or four groups depending on class size. From that point on, the students are in charge. The students brainstorm, research and bring their small businesses to life after being told that we would only be able to have an end of the year party if they raised the money for it.
We’ve had everything from garage sales (donated products = PROFIT!) to a burrito business to an art gallery. They research cost, contact experts in the field and acquire supplies. They advertise, market and work the front lines. All of these facets of a small business allow students to work across subjects without having to break between. An end of unit party is thrown proceeds, and every year we’ve brought in at least $700!
Novel Studies
In the upper grades, novel studies are such a great way to get students excited about reading! The continuing story provides the hook, and they’re always wanting “just one more chapter!”
I was able to collaborate on a novel study with a former administrator and introduced a companion journal for each student to keep that covered comprehension, story elements and personal response and reflections as we made our way through the novel. I will continue to include this component in future studies.
Novel studies have the versatility to touch on a variety of standards not only in ELA but social studies, science and sometimes even math all the while students are so invested in the story that they don’t even notice they’re in higher order thinking mode.
Wax Museum Biographies
I absolutely ADORE the creativity students bring to this project that covers ELA and social studies. I first saw a wax museum at my niece’s elementary school and knew I would recreate in my own classroom one day. Every time I do, it’s a hit!
We’ve tweaked a bit allowing for different types of exhibits based on availability of supplies for families of differing means. While I’ve always allowed students to choose their own subjects, this project can easily be tailored to any unit in social studies.
Wax Museum Biographies
Wax Museum Biographies
Wax Museum Biographies
Wax Museum Biographies
Wax Museum Biographies
Wax Museum Biographies
Gardening & Cooking
Base 10 Cities
Polar Express Art & Party
Canvas Painting
Canvas Painting
Novel Studies
Classroom Zoo
Classroom Zoo
Classroom Zoo
Pottery
Classroom Partners
Principal Stieg’s read-aloud with 4th grade
High School Leadership Reading Groups
OU Sooners Basketball
Ms. Iwamato teaching Origami
Principal Bates’s Maniac Magee lesson
Mike Bone visiting during Native Heritage Month
Senator Brooks talks with 2nd grade
ROTC Reading Buddies
Parents joining us for Minute to Win It
Dr. Torres presenting during Dia de los Muertos
Visiting TG Farms
Senator Garvin visits with 4th grade
Community
Community is key! As previously mentioned, I believe building a strong, supportive and trutworthy community within the classroom yields better results than any other implementation. In addition to building a foundation within the classroom, connecting with those in our school, city and state community are equally as important, as our students don’t live inside our four walls. Collaborating with other classes, teachers, administration and specialists within the building creates bonds and adds advocates to each student’s personal team.
Outside of the building, I’m a big fan of bringing in community members be it parents, city and state leaders, career liasions, mentors and more. The more students make connections with community, the more apt they are to want to become productive members.
Education
K-12
Norman Public Schools
Bachelor of Arts
University of Oklahoma 2008
Master of Education
University of Oklahoma 2018
Pre-Certification
Indian Education
Norman Public Schools
Resource Paraprofessional
Norman Public Schools
Post-Certification
Third Grade
Crooked Oak Public Schools
Second Grade
Crooked Oak Public Schools
Fourth Grade
Norman Public Schools
First Grade
Santa Fe South Charter Schools
Adjunct Professor
University of Oklahoma
Non-Education
Travel Agent & Manager
Magic, Memories, Mayhem & Story Time Travel
Tribal Election Board
Delaware Nation
Involvement
- Team lead
- Diversity, equity and inclusion committee
- Social studies committee
- Mentor teacher
- Cooperating teacher
Request
Ms. Ma’ilo’s class was perfect. Well, except for the bookshelf. A lot of the books would fall.
I always felt happy in Ms. Ma’ilo’s room because she was always kind.
Jessica assisted me on a very important project and she never tired of my questions or conflicts. Jessica stayed cheery, helpful, communicative, and attentive throughout. I would not hesitate for a second to collaborate with Jessica again. In fact, I look forward to it.
I had the pleasure of working with Jessica as a coworker and on the diversity equity team, spanning over two years time working on several inclusive and collaborative projects. Jessica goes above and beyond to bring voice and choice to her classroom and students. She provides multiple opportunities for students to manipulate and comprehend the material she is teaching in a unique way. Each student to enter her classroom feels seen and heard for all their intersectional identities. Jessica celebrates diversity, promotes equity, and strives to collaborate with all.
On the diversity council, I found Jessica to be passionate and ambitious when it came to making sure our schools reflected a multitude of cultures with integrity and candor. She focused on bringing opportunities into the building through community involvement and outreach. Many of her projects were hands on and allowed those benefiting to see unknown possibilities. Jessica is a natural leader with bold and innovative ideas willing to listen and collaborate with all who are striving for equity and inclusivity.
Miss Ma’ilo is the best teacher because she tries so hard to get us what we want. She teaches us so well. She is so creative, especially in the classroom. She took her time for the classroom. She is the BEST!!!!! Love you Miss Ma’ilo!
Jessica is always looking for new ways to keep her students engaged and teach them things they WANT to know about just as much as she teaches the required curriculum. She works great with her team membersto come up with creative art projects and team building activities not only for her students but for the entire grade. She is loving and fun but firm with high expectations for each student regardless of their abilities. Her love pours through her kids; they are better people when they leave her room.
Jessica is a caring and compassionate educator who always works in the best interests of her students. She is motivated to make a change for the better for her students through her multi-layered advocacy approaches. Jessica is a natural born educator who brings wonder, peace, and inspiration to her students and colleagues.
Jessica Ma’ilo helped my son tremendously when he was in her class. She allowed him to be who he was and to be comfortable in his own skin. She fostered his love of reading by showing him a variety of books and allowed him to determine what he liked. She was able to balance his spirit while still holding him accountable for his own learning. I am forever grateful to her and the life long skills she has given my son.
Jessica was my daughter Drew’s first aide in elementary school. Jessica was the perfect match for my sweet, mischievous kindergartener. She was gentle yet firm, a safety net when needed yet stepped back and let her flourish and gain independence, too. She showed the right amount of love and logic to my girl, exactly how she needed it. We were blessed to have her apart of Drew’s education for 2 years.
Ten years later, we still keep in touch and I look back on those years with a grateful heart.
Jessica is one of those people who can walk into a room and the atmosphere immediately changes. Her bright and vibrant personality captures the attention of her students and immediately draws them to her. I love her sense of humor, along with just enough wit to insert a surprising comment with perfect timing.
Jessica has a passion for educating others on diversity and inclusion, and is a natural at making all feel welcome. She truly understands the concept of Maslow’s before Bloom, and implements this principle on a daily basis in her classroom. Her passion for learning keeps her humble and her ability to see the best in each student keeps her drive to teach strong and vibrant. There is much to learn from someone like Jessica.