Jenni Kolenda

5th Grade Teacher

For Jenni Kolenda, teaching 5th grade is exactly where she wants to be. She teaches Bible, History, and ELA, and she genuinely loves the age group she gets to work with each day. “5th graders are the BEST. They are smart, kind, and express their emotions honestly. They have such a great sense of humor and still get excited about things.”

Jenni earned a BM in Music Education and a BA in Elementary Education from DePauw University. After 15 years in the classroom, what continues to matter most to her is the relationships she builds with her students. She is intentional about knowing them personally and investing in who they are becoming. “My goal each year is to make sure every one of my students (and former students) feels loved and protected while they are here,” she shares.

Jenni’s faith is woven into the way she teaches and connects with her students. “I want them to see my faith and how I use and incorporate it into my everyday life,” she says. Each year, Jenni shares her personal faith story with every class she interacts with and continually points students back to the grace and love of Jesus. “He is SO easily integrated into history and every single novel that we read,” she says.

Some of her most meaningful moments as an educator come years after students leave her classroom. Over time, she has taught around 800 students, and hearing from some of them as they grow up is a reminder of how God works through everyday moments. She especially treasures when former students return to visit or share how their time in her class shaped them.

Outside of school, Jenni enjoys antiquing and DIY projects with her husband, Lance. They love making things for their home and spending time with their two dogs. Their greatest joy, though, is time with their four children.

We are grateful for Jenni’s faithful investment in her students and the way she points them toward Christ each day. Her care, joy, and commitment to her students make a lasting impact on the Heritage community.