About Sea Bean Consulting
Sea Bean Consulting was formed in 2010 by Jen MacDonald as a way to support schools and families that needed experienced, but practical help improving outcomes for students. As she traveled the country, she was fortunate to experience diverse rural and urban educational settings that ranged from public, private, parochial, and charter schools in which she experienced exceptional instructional models as well as inefficient, and underperforming models.
Those experiences coupled with a deep desire to help families support their children’s unique learning needs naturally led Jen to directly supporting parents and teachers in the Grand Traverse region where she grew up. Sea Bean offers an array of bespoke supports and services for parents, teachers, and children. While Sea Bean does provide instruction to students, we are NOT primarily a tutoring company.
Jen MacDonald, M.Ed., M.A.
Educational Consultant & Innovation Advocate
Jen MacDonald has over 25 years of experience as a teacher, consultant, and trainer of teachers. Jen has worked with numerous schools around the country to provide customized, creative, & sustainable services to enhance curriculum, assessment, and instruction for ALL learners. She is an experienced special education teacher, compliance monitor, consultant, and trainer with special expertise in working with children with unique learning needs and helping schools vision their future, setting high expectations for all. Jen is CEO of her own educational consulting firm, Sea Bean Consulting.
Jen’s formal training includes a Bachelor’s degree in English and Organizational Communication from Alma College, a Master’s degree (M.Ed.) in Special Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership (emphasis: elementary principalship) from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She also earned her Special Education Supervisor/Director’s endorsements from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jen has been trained in Orton-Gillingham encoding and decoding techniques and is a Michigan Literacy Progress Profile (MLPP) K-2 Trainer of Trainers.
Annie MacDonald, Literacy Assistant
Annie is a 5 year old pure-bred German Shepherd who serves as Jen MacDonald’s mobility service dog. In addition to her job as a service dog, Annie often spends time listening to children read and watching over classrooms. Annie has unique abilities in identifying and supporting children with sensory integration or emotional needs.
When not at school, she is a Hide-and-Seek Champion who also enjoys tug of war and chasing her ball. She loves cheese and being near little people or best of all being near little people with cheese!
