Meet Jessica Look – Grant Halliburton Foundation’s Thrive Strategy and education manager. Jessica has a master’s degree in educational psychology and brings 20 years of experience working in public and private school settings. As a mother, educator, and mental health advocate, she’s committed to changing the conversation around mental health and providing resources to children and teens in North Texas.

Let’s learn more about our Canadian turned Texan, eh? Here are 10 things to know about Jessica.

1. What was your first job?
In high school, I worked as a hostess at a restaurant called Paradise Café. My first teaching job was as a first-grade teacher in DeSoto ISD.

2. What’s your guilty pleasure?
I’m not a huge dessert person but have been known to sneak sour candy and gummy worms from my daughters’ candy stash. I hope they’re not reading this!

3. What advice would you give to your teenage self?
”It’s okay to be smart.  It’s okay not to be perfect.  It’s okay to say no.  It’s okay to not be okay.”

4. What’s your favorite movie scene and why?
I love the scene in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” where Julia Roberts realizes that in the process of trying to break up her best friend’s marriage she may have gotten him into some trouble. She’s clearly distraught and steps out of her hotel room to smoke a cigarette. The bellman (Paul Giamatti) asks if she needs help and after hearing how upset she is he simply says, “This, too, shall pass.” I think we all need to be reminded of that during difficult times.

5. What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I was born in Canada and have dual citizenship.  I was in elementary school when we moved to Texas, so I consider myself a native Texan now.

6. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
My autobiography would be called My Life in the Slow Lane. My nights and weekends these days are filled with softball games, children’s theater, dance recitals, and cheer competitions, not exotic vacations and wild adventures. I wouldn’t want it any other way. (This could also describe my terrible driving!)

7. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I love spending time with my family and friends, going on walks at the nature preserve by our home, and doing reformer Pilates.

8. What are your top three TV shows you’re streaming right now?
I’m watching “Home Town,” “Friends,” and “Victorious” seems to be playing on a loop in our house. I’ve seen every episode at least five times with my daughter.

9. Where’s your favorite travel destination and why?
I love traveling to Mexico. My husband and I got engaged and later married on a beach in Mexico. We used to return each year for vacation (before children) and it was actually the last place we went before COVID-19 closed travel down. 

10. Why is Grant Halliburton Foundation’s mission important to you?
When I was a sophomore in college, I lost a close friend to suicide. When I reflect on that time, I realize that so many warning signs were there, but I didn’t have the knowledge or tools to get him the help he needed. The work the Foundation does is life saving and I’m proud to be a part of it.