Jeanette is a passionate, values and results-driven leader with over two decades of public service professional experience. She is an attorney and successful middle school humanities and bilingual educator who firmly believes in the power and promise of public education to be an avenue for racial and social justice. She deeply values the cultural wealth of BIPOC children and enacting progressive child-centered pedagogy. She is a constructivist pedagogue and servant-leader skilled in creating transformative learning environments where all children can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically by designing, facilitating, and assessing high-quality learning experiences for students and adults.

Jeanette holds a Master of Education in educational leadership from Bank Street College of Education, a Master of Studies in bilingual childhood education from Fordham University, a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in public policy and urban studies from the City University of New York. She holds New York professional certifications in bilingual education & childhood education (Grades 1-6) and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

Jeanette was married in September 2023 to Dr. Michael Harrigan and has a blended family including three daughters, a son, five grandchildren, a soon to arrive great-grandson, two cats and a dog. She enjoys traveling, yoga, skiing, candle and soap making, and spending quality time with family.