Jessica Curran is a seasoned elementary school teacher with over two decades of experience nurturing young minds. She has been a first-grade teacher at Matthew Paterson Elementary School in Patterson, NY, since 2005, following a year teaching fourth grade at the same school. Prior to that, she taught fourth grade at West Patent Elementary School in Bedford, NY, from 2001 to 2003.
 
Throughout her career, Jessica has been deeply involved in shaping the educational landscape by serving on numerous committees. These include the site base and safety committee, language arts committee, arts in education committee, elementary principal hiring committee, and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports in the Classroom (PBIS) committee. Her dedication to professional growth is evident in her ongoing pursuit of graduate courses to stay abreast of evolving teaching strategies. She holds a BA in Elementary Education, a BS in Psychology from Keene State College, and an MA in Literacy from Manhattanville College.

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In addition to her teaching expertise, Jessica is a passionate advocate for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, inspired by her journey raising a son affected by the condition. In her home state of Connecticut, she collaborated with Governor Ned Lamont to establish September 7th as World Duchenne Awareness Day, making Connecticut the second state to officially recognize this important day. On Capitol Hill, she actively engages with congressional leaders, championing Duchenne appropriations, and has testified before the FDA, contributing to the Patient-Focused Drug Development initiative. 

 

Jessica’s advocacy has brought her to the national stage, where she has spoken at events led by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Springboard Enterprises, Ask Bio, and Pfizer. She has also delivered impactful statements at press conferences, including a 2020 Affordable Care Act event with Senator Richard Blumenthal and a 2025 NIH press conference at Yale University. Her work has been widely recognized by prominent media outlets such as NPR, USA Today, Science Magazine, and NBC CT, among others. 

 

For her exceptional contributions, Jessica was honored as one of PM360 Magazine's 2023 Elite 100 in the philanthropic category, celebrating her influence within the healthcare industry. Her advocacy, combined with her commitment to education, reflects her unwavering dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.