Meet the JK Dynamic Duo-Jennifer Alexander & Karen Leone

Smiles, hugs, and limitless patience-these are just a few of the things the amazing Junior Kindergarten Teaching Assistants bring to our Early Childhood Center. With a combined total of 51 years of experience at St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School, there isn’t much Jennifer Alexander and Karen Leone haven’t seen or heard! Take a minute to hear from them, in their own words, why they love teaching in JK and supporting our SAA and SDS families.

This is Jennifer Alexander’s 20th year to teach at Saint Agnes-Saint Dominic. She was an assistant in Pre-Kindergarten for 17 years and made the move to Junior Kindergarten in 2022. She works alongside Lead Teacher Amy Shoaf.

When asked what she likes most about JK, Jennifer shared: “JK is a year of incredible growth and development.  When a child grasps a new concept, seeing the joy and pride on their face is very rewarding.  And honestly, they are just truly happy little people to be with every day.”

Karen Leone has been a Teaching Assistant in our ECC for 31 years! She has taught Pre-K, JK and Kindergarten students (K used to be a part of the ECC!). Having finally landed in JK in 2013, she too loves the excitement and energy the students bring. Karen works alongside Lead Teacher Renee Price.

She explained, “The JK kids are very curious and eager to learn. So much of what we do is new and exciting to them. I love watching them grow in all ways—academically, socially, emotionally. Learning to be independent is a big focus in JK, and to see how proud they are when they master something is a proud moment for me as well.”

Their love for their jobs is evident when you visit the ECC.  Jennifer gave us a glimpse at what brings that joy: “The opportunity to see the children grow and explore all life has to offer makes the ECC really something special. I also love to watch them as they continue to grow in the Lower School. And, as this is my 20th year here, I can honestly say it is a great feeling to be a part of the Saint Agnes and Saint Dominic family.”

Karen added: “The ECC is a happy, joyful place to be on campus.  I love walking into our colorful classrooms and seeing these energetic children coming in to play and learn. And, we have great coworkers here in the ECC, so it makes coming to work easy and enjoyable. Every day in the ECC is different! There’s never a dull moment.”

There’s no doubt that each day in JK brings a good laugh for Mrs. Jennifer and Mrs. Karen. We asked what the funniest thing was they’d ever been told - and they just couldn’t narrow it down! Jennifer shared, “I have enough funny stories to fill volumes-but I love how they think I live at school. And somehow, they are always surprised to learn that I am a mother and a grandmother.”

Karen loves all the entertaining stories they share, and she said one of the most fun-filled days is always the 100^th Day of School. “When they arrive dressed up as 100-year-old people, it’s just hilarious.”

Outside of school, Jennifer loves gardening-so much that she went through the training to become a Master Gardener! But spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter, is her number one activity.

She shared, “I am blessed to be married to my husband of 36 years, Anthony.  We have twins, a son and a daughter.  Our son Ben is a graduate of CBHS and the University of Notre Dame.  He is a CPA in the Audit department at Reynolds Bone and Griesbeck.  Our daughter Claire is a graduate of Saint Agnes and Tulane University.  She earned her Doctorate of Audiology at University of Tennessee and currently practices at an ENT clinic in Minneapolis.  She and my son- in-law Jonathan are parents to two-year-old Rosie and are expecting a baby boy in April.”

For Karen, family is also the most important thing in her life outside of school (Well really, for Karen, that is at school too. She has four granddaughters at SAA.) She said, “In my free time, I spend a lot of time with my nine grandchildren, either babysitting or going to their many activities-soccer, football, wrestling, track, theatre, dance.” She also likes to spend time outdoors, loves all animals, and enjoys puzzles, plays and movies. Karen has been married to her husband Joe for 47 years and has four children. Her three daughters are graduates of SAA.

JK Lead Teachers Mrs. Amy and Mrs. Renee know they are blessed to have such amazing support in their classrooms. Amy shared, “Jennifer is so calm and patient-and always smiling. She absolutely loves her job and the kids. And, if you ever need anything done in a timely manner, just give it to her! She loves a project or a task and will make sure it is done precisely and efficiently.”

Renee echoed the same sentiments about Karen, saying “Ms. Karen is such a wonderful person to work with, and having her in the classroom is a great resource. With her years of experience at SAA-SDS, she brings such knowledge and sense of tradition. She is always willing to help others, even if that means going out of her way. She provides lots of love, support and comfort to the students, parents, and fellow staff.” 

Thank you to Mrs. Jennifer and Mrs. Karen for all that you do to make our school a better place. We love and appreciate you!