HMS Alumna Jessica Chaikof '10 Pursues PhD With Resilience

Jessica has Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes hearing loss, progressive vision loss, and vestibular issues. At HMS, Jessica was respected for who she is and became the determined advocate and scholar she is today. “It was no secret I had a disability, but it did not matter,” she said. “The faculty and students allowed me to be myself.” High Meadows celebrates every individual’s quest for knowledge and skill and empowers each student to be a compassionate, responsible, and active global citizen.

During her time as a student, she formed strong bonds with Ms. (Stephanie) Smith, a 4^th and 5^th grade teacher who is now the school’s director of development, and Middle Years faculty, Ms. (Anne) Lovatt and Mr. (Isaac) Wolf. “High Meadows allows you to cultivate relationships, and the teachers treat you like you are an adult,” she said. “Mr. Wolf gave me great advice during my last student-led conference. He told me to use my extra help period in high school to talk to my teachers and build relationships like I did at HMS.”

In Middle Years (Grades 6-8), Jessica admits she struggled to find a study strategy that worked for her, but she embraced the six-week study skills course. She advocated for a method that allowed her to thrive, and when she graduated from HMS and transitioned to Newton North High School in Massachusetts — a school of 1,800 students — she drew on the independence and confidence that High Meadows instilled in her. “Because of what I learned at High Meadows, I became a strong student,” Jessica said. “I excelled in classes like biology, chemistry, and math, and I credit HMS with making me fall in love with math.”

After high school, Jessica enrolled at Wheaton College, drawn to its small, connected community that reminded her of her days on the Meadow. While she began college as a chemistry major, a class that examined interconnectedness between three courses sparked a change in her studies. In the class, she examined the relationships between race and ethnicity, African American history, and African American literature. At that point, she decided not to say goodbye to sociology and changed her major.

College was not always easy for Jessica, especially when it came to navigating and obtaining the necessary accommodations. Jessica did more than advocate for herself; she researched how higher education faculty understand accessibility in their classrooms and the challenges they face. For her senior capstone, Jessica was one of six recipients of the best poster award out of 120 submissions.

Her post-graduate studies took her to American University for a master’s program, and her life changed thanks to an impressed professor. “I took the determination that HMS gave me. I went to the office hours even without questions,” she recalled. “I formed relationships, and one professor offered to partner with me while also providing funding for my research project.”

Together, they conducted endometriosis research, and Jessica earned her first publication in the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Although she was initially denied admission to doctoral programs a few years earlier, she continued her pursuit of a doctoral degree after graduating from American University

“HMS taught me to take risks,” she said. “I could have chosen not to apply to PhD programs. Applying is a difficult process, but I refused to quit.” Four years later, Jessica is working on her dissertation, examining how accessibility is organized in higher education.

High Meadows School students like Jessica are academically prepared, ethical leaders who make a difference in their immediate communities and the world. If you are seeking an independent school with a positive, progressive approach to education for your 3-year-old through 8^th-grade student, schedule a visit today.