Jessica Millstone: Reflections on 15 Years of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center

Jessica Millstone was an Education Fellow from 2011-2014, where she honed her expertise in edtech and game-based learning.

I first learned about the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at a pivotal moment in both my life and career. After years of working in K-12 schools and cultural institutions as a technology integration specialist, I had just invested in an advanced master’s degree from Bank Street College of Education and also gave birth to my second child (who is turning 12 next month!) – and found myself ready for my next professional adventure. While at Bank Street, I completed an independent research project exploring the use of video games for learning, and I luckily learned about the Cooney Center + Gates Foundation Games and Learning Publishing Council, which I was invited to join as an educational research fellow. Participating in this project was incredibly rewarding; not only did I have a chance to lead research and produce a multi-part video series celebrating innovative teachers who utilize digital games for learning, but I also was introduced to industry leaders who shared my passion for using kid’s engagement and fluency with technology to improve teaching and learning overall. One particular company in this space, BrainPOP, was integral in supporting my work at the Cooney Center, and when my fellowship concluded, BrainPOP became my full-time professional home for the next five years. 

After many pivots through marketing, product development, and UX Research at BrainPOP, I decided in late 2019 to make a dramatic career change and launch a venture capital fund.  Copper Wire Ventures, which focuses on early-stage/female-founded tech companies primarily in the future of learning + work sectors, leverages my deep expertise in edtech and lifelong learning products while also fulfilling a mission to expand access to catalytic capital for women entrepreneurs. It’s been an amazing experience to be able to combine all my accumulated knowledge in the education space with learning a brand-new (to me) sector: venture investing.  Among the many things I learned from mentors and peers at the JGCC is the craft of sharing knowledge, and I credit the comfort I developed at the Cooney Center in participating in thought leadership opportunities like national conferences, long-form podcast interviews, and judging competitions with the rapid growth I’ve experienced in my new career as an fund manager and entrepreneur support system. A huge thank you to everyone I worked with, and happy anniversary to all the past, present, and future leaders at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center! 

 

 

 

Jessica Millstone, MPS, Ed.M, is a leading expert and advisor on the use of educational technology at both home and school, and the founder of Copper Wire Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on women-led tech companies.  Prior to becoming a full-time investor, Jessica was the Director of Engagement at BrainPOP, building family engagement products and expanding UX Research within the company, the inaugural Education Fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, a research + innovation lab within Sesame Workshop, and a parent outreach presenter for Common Sense Media.  This background provides Jessica with a unique position to offer both financial capital and network connections to companies within or adjacent to the Copper Wire portfolio, supporting innovative products and business models that benefit the entire edtech ecosystem. Jessica holds master’s degrees from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunication Program and Bank Street College of Education, and is the mother of two children (ages 17 and 12) residing in Brooklyn, NY.