Trustee
Jennifer Knussen has worked in Primary Education since 1989 and has been a Head Teacher for 12 years. Her initial B.Ed and subsequent Masters Degree both focussed on interpersonal relationships, and how these impact on how a group can fail or function. Her research in this area continues.
A significant amount of Jenn’s work has focussed on supporting children who may be experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences, or who may have experienced these in the past, whilst also supporting families. The value of building strong relationships with colleagues in other sectors cannot be underestimated in the success of such support. The strong sense of “institutional trust” Jenn’s team build with all adults, around a child, has also had a profound impact on her ‘bairns’ and their families. Jenn is a founding member of the Fife ACEs Hub and continues to take an active role in this.
Since 2010, Jenn has advised many audiences on how language can affect change. She is credited as being the person who first described “challenging behaviour” as “distressed behaviour”. This has had a profound impact on many people, particularly as more people became aware of the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Jenn is currently on a crusade to change the term “vulnerable people” to “valuable people” as only then, she believes, will their true worth be described.
Jenn is a Young Carers Champion for her local area, and has worked with the Scottish Government on aspects of Behaviour in Schools.
“Every kid needs a champion.” Rita Pierson, 2013.