Meet Jessie

Jessie Hayden is a veteran educator, learning designer, and writer whose work is shaped by decades of teaching, creating, and listening closely to others’ stories. She is also a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother—roles that continue to inform both her creative work and her way of being in the world.

 

Originally from Atlanta, Jessie is now based in the mountains of Blue Ridge, Georgia, where place and landscape play a meaningful role in her daily life and creative practice.

Professionally, Jessie spent 26 years in higher education, teaching English as a Second Language and English Composition.

 

In addition to her teaching career, she worked extensively as an instructional designer and online course creator, partnering with faculty across the country to co-create thoughtful, engaging, and learner-centered online courses. This work strengthened her belief in reflection, accessibility, and the quiet power of well-designed learning experiences.

​

A recent shift into semi-retirement has allowed Jessie to more fully engage her coequal passions for creative writing, barn quilt painting, and long-distance hiking. These practices—each rooted in patience, observation, and craft—inform one another and shape the rhythm of her days.

​

Jessie is new to the craft of creative writing. Her stories explore the resilience of everyday people as they navigate life’s challenges with humility, imperfection, and genuine grace. Whether through fiction, guided journals, or visual art, Jessie’s work invites readers and viewers into moments of reflection, presence, and quiet wonder.