Jody Passanisi

Jody Passanisi is the Director of Upper School (grades 5-8) at an independent school in Silicon Valley. She holds an M.A. in Religious Studies from the Graduate Theological Union and an M.S. in Education from Mt. St. Mary’s University.

A former middle school history teacher in Los Angeles, Jody also served as an adjunct instructor at Mt. St. Mary’s University and HUC, guiding educators in curriculum development and innovative social studies methods. Her expertise lies in the transformative middle-grade years—fifth through eighth—where growth, change, and identity formation are at their peak. Her writing has been featured in Education Week and Scientific American, where she explores the complexities of teaching, learning, and parenting through this pivotal stage.

Jody lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. You can find her on Instagram @chaostocontext.