We’re excited to welcome Jenna Persico, VP of District Sales, to Kira. Jenna brings deep classroom roots, years of experience scaling EdTech sales teams, and a clear passion for helping schools expand opportunity for every student. Get to know her in this quick Q&A.

Tell us a bit about your background—what brought you to Kira, and why did this opportunity resonate with you?

I have always loved school. I love the idea of this one thing bringing communities together, that school has the ability to be the source of opportunity for all students, the socializing and laughter that occurs in the hallways, the endless learning and access to ideas outside of your own. I have loved school since I was in kindergarten, and I’ve always known I wanted to work in education.

I followed that passion after college, teaching high school English in rural South Carolina. I loved being in the classroom, but I had the opportunity to expand the reach of an EdTech company that I deeply believed in, and I haven’t looked back since.

Since then, I have grown and scaled sales teams across multiple EdTech companies, and I’ve thrived on the energy of building the brand of phenomenal tools for educators. Kira stood out to me first because of the people. Everyone I met had that same passion and energy for what they do, and I knew I needed to learn more. Then, as I dug into the product, the opportunity felt endless. Kira builds tools that have the capacity to change the lives of students, teachers, and district leaders. I have never experienced such a true end-to-end solution that so clearly keeps student outcomes in mind. I cannot wait to show teachers the impact Kira will have on their day to day.

What are you most excited about as you start your journey here?

Working in school districts is challenging, and the past few years have made that work even harder. One of the things that has stood out to me so far is how much more efficient and impactful Kira can make educators’ day-to-day lives. I’m most excited for my first real “aha” moment with an educator—walking them through the platform and seeing them light up at the possibilities.

What’s something interesting or unique about yourself that your new colleagues might be surprised to learn?

I am partially deaf in my left ear and always need to stand on a person’s left side to hear them. Surprisingly, I consider being a great listener one of my greatest strengths. Also, subtitles are non-negotiable.

How do you see your role contributing to Kira’s mission of transforming education through AI?

My main objective at Kira is to build a sales engine that increases our conversations with districts, which in turn increases the number of students and educators we positively impact. This team and these products are incredible, and I can’t wait to collaborate with my colleagues at Kira to expand our reach in districts across the U.S.

When you’re not working, what do you love doing? Any hobbies, interests, or passion projects you’d like to share?

I love being active, and right now I play in both a pickleball league and a volleyball league. Exercise is my stress release, and I’m always up for trying a new workout class if anyone in the office is interested. I also love reading rom-coms and thrillers, and I’m always up to date on The Bachelor franchise. Trying new restaurants and foods brings me joy, and I do not discriminate when it comes to cuisine or restaurant type. Arguably, some of my best meals have come from food trucks. I’ve also tried to nurture plants, but all efforts have been unsuccessful—so any tips are welcome.

We’re thrilled to have Jenna on the team and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have as Kira continues to grow. If you’re a district leader exploring how AI can save time, strengthen instruction, and support better outcomes, Jenna and the Kira team would love to connect.