Staff Spotlight: Jae Crockett

It’s not easy to summarize Jae Crockett, Spring Forward’s new Program Manager in a few sentences. But, when she describes herself, phrases and words like “hard working,” “resourceful,” and “creative” come up in the conversation. After seeing her in action at the Spring Forward site at Ridgewood Elementary, you can tell that working with youth is a passion. Jae started in January and spends her time supporting students at all SF after school sites. 

During her high school years she had her heart set on making a career as a basketball player as a top college recruit. She set her sights on playing professional ball in Australia when her knee told her it was time to choose a different path in life. A series of jobs led her to a career track in education as a paraprofessional reading tutor in a local school district where she discovered she enjoyed working with students to help them improve their literacy skills. 

As an advocate for lifelong learning, she actively engages in being a positive force for youth, encouraging students to explore their passions and pursue excellence. Jae believes that reading and literacy is the key to unlocking one's full potential, and she is dedicated to nurturing the next generation. She has also been heavily involved in putting together a spring intersession program for Edison to help young men and women utilize and hone their creative skills in an entrepreneurial style class.

“Kids are capable of so much more than they realize,” said Jae. “And I want to help get them there.” Beyond the words, Jae’s journey is an inspiring testament to resilience, creativity, and a deep-rooted commitment to making a difference.