Our New Director of Professional Development: Jordyn Zimmerman

Here at The Nora Project, we’re not only building inclusive classroom curriculum for students ages 3 to 22, we’re creating professional development for educators and community leaders around disability inclusion--a topic about which most adults have never received adequate education. In order to grow and improve our training program, we’re welcoming Jordyn Zimmerman to the Nora Project family as our new Director of Professional Development.

Jordyn’s background is in Education Policy and Curriculum & Instruction. Having experienced special education programs while in school herself, Jordyn is dedicated to becoming a catalyst for change. In her career thus far, she has worked with a wide range of students and educators, and has presented to thousands of educators and business leaders on a national and global platform, focusing on the topics of Autism, inclusion, and communication. Jordyn will be graduating with a Masters degree in Special Education from Boston College at the end of this year, building on her undergraduate work with leading inclusive education thinker and influencer Dr. Jen Newton. She will join The Nora Project team in January 2022. 

As you might imagine, Jordyn had a number of exciting employment opportunities. We asked her why she chose to join us. Here’s what she had to say.

Every year, as I blew out my birthday candles, my one wish was to be included. Educated in substantially separate classrooms, I rarely had the opportunity to interact with my abled peers. When we were physically together, there was still a feeling of distance. I never felt wanted or like I belonged in school — therefore, I did not feel a part of my community.

The Nora Project gets to the root of this and I am eager to join the team as the Director of Professional Development, come January, 2022! 

I cannot wait to work with educators who share my same drive about ensuring all students have access to a meaningfully, inclusive education; where students are actively taught about disability as an integral part of human diversity; and, where educators implement a curriculum that allows disabled students to feel proud of who they are. I hope to present ideas, problem-solve, and give people the tools to build truly inclusive classrooms — as we know perception about disability is shaped at a young age, and how we include or exclude people in our learning spaces matters.

Jordyn, we’re counting the days, and can’t wait to work alongside you!