Jennifer Karydas is an experienced educator and leader, passionate about coaching and mentoring individuals to increase their skillset and confidence in order to transform their lives, communities, and society. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Applied Science in Sociology from Texas State University-San Marcos and her Master's in Education in Out of School Time and Leadership from Lesley University. With over ten years of experience in education, Jennifer has worked as a Special Education Teacher at the Austin Independent School District and Russell Byers Charter School, an Instructional Coach and Program Coordinator at Breakthrough Central Texas, and a National Teaching Fellow-Team Leader and Apprenticeship Program Lead at Citizen Schools. Her work has been recognized with roles like the Assistant Director of After School Programs at The Princeton Review and the Public Relations Assistant at Deb Bernardini Marketing and Public Relations. In her work, Jennifer brings a constructivist, responsive, reflective, and growth-mindset approach, focusing on fostering, encouraging, and training youth who will lead the way to a new era, as likeminded mentor Daisaku Ikeda teaches.