My Story
Hi, I'm Jen.
And this is my story.
I'm a former teacher, a mom of four, and someone who believes the best classroom a young child can have is in a place they feel at home surrounded by the people who love them. My idea for a community preschool started in my small home — with a few families, a curriculum I designed week by week, and a desire to cultivate something different.
And at the heart of all of it is one simple belief: that childhood should feel like an adventure, not an assignment.
Where it began
A teacher at heart,
a mama first.
Before becoming a mom, I spent years in a classroom. I loved it — the planning, the energy, the way a child's face changes the moment something finally clicks. But when I became a mother, something shifted.
With the birth of my daughter, I wanted to create a childhood that felt like magic. Learning in nature, reading beautiful books and making space for intentional living in every area of our lives.
2021 — The first step
Five families.
A list of fun themes.
One big idea.
In 2021, I had my oldest signed up for the best preschool in town. But when it came time to send her at the height of the pandemic with all the rules and regulations, I knew it wasn't the experience that I wanted for her. I declined our admission, lost my deposit and was back to square one. So although I swore I would never homeschool my kids, I was suddenly looking to that community for options for my daughter. But nothing felt right. I knew exactly what I wanted for her, but why was it so hard to find? And that little voice inside my head said "wait... I can do this."
I put out a post on the local homeschool Facebook group and asked if anyone was interested in learning together. The plan was simple; I would open my home to a few families and follow a seasonal rhythm with a different theme each week. That first year taught me more than I expected. The children thrived. The parents connected. And I knew I had stumbled onto something real.
The journey continues
It started with an idea,
now it's growing into something greater.
What started as a handful of families around one table has grown into something I never could have planned for. And honestly? I'm just getting started.
I can't wait for every new family to find their way to the table. This is the part of the story we get to write together.
Children learn best when they feel comfortable and surrounded by the people who love them. That's not a philosophy — it's just what I've watched happen, over and over again.— Jen Hess, Founder of Home Sweet Hess Community Preschool