Jj Janikis

JJ is a former member of Newsela's engagement marketing team, where they focused on connecting teachers with high-quality content and fostering teacher-to-teacher connections.12 Prior to their role in marketing, JJ worked as a 6th grade teacher.12 Their experience in both education and marketing has given them valuable insights into the needs of teachers and students, which they likely leveraged in their position at Newsela.

Role at Newsela

In their capacity at Newsela, JJ was involved in various initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes:

• Content Curation: JJ worked on connecting teachers with relevant and engaging content for their classrooms.
• Teacher Collaboration: They facilitated networking opportunities for educators to share best practices and resources.
• Educational Blog Posts: JJ contributed to Newsela's blog, sharing insights on topics such as building background knowledge, practicing literacy skills, and incorporating diverse perspectives in lessons.123

Impact on Education

JJ's work at Newsela focused on several key areas that are crucial for effective teaching and learning:

• Background Knowledge: Emphasizing the importance of providing students with foundational information before introducing new concepts.1
• Literacy Skills: Promoting the practice of literacy skills across all subjects to drive student achievement.2
• Diverse Perspectives: Encouraging the inclusion of varied viewpoints and cultural representations in classroom discussions.3

Through their role, JJ has likely played a significant part in shaping Newsela's approach to supporting educators and enhancing student engagement with educational content.