Jessica McConnell

Jessica McConnell is the founder and operator of Ember & Root, a community-centered enrichment space designed to give children opportunities for hands-on exploration, creativity, and self-directed learning.

Jessica is an educator with 14 years of experience as an elementary teacher and school librarian. She began her career teaching in under-resourced schools in South Louisiana and later spent nine wonderful years with Fayetteville Public Schools—experiences that deeply shaped her commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities for all children.

Throughout her career, she has been passionate about sparking curiosity in children. Her time in classrooms, libraries and, later, homeschooling one of her three children strengthened her belief that every child deserves access to environments where curiosity is encouraged, creativity is valued, and learning feels personal and engaging. Jessica earned her undergraduate degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, and her master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Jessica has lived in Fayetteville for 11 years. When she’s not working with kids, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, gathering people together, and volunteering as an elder at her church.