Region IV SkillsUSA Advisor of the Year

Jennifer Leff

Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative
Chaska, Minnesota

Jennifer Leff (center) is pictured with her State Executive Director:
Jennifer Polz (left) and her Principal at CSEC: Cindy Walters (left)

In the early 1990s a graphic design class at Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative (CSEC) in Chaska, Minnesota, sparked a lifelong passion for printing in student Jennifer (Busse) Leff. Today, Leff is back in the same class, at the same school ... as the lead instructor. In fact, Leff has been an instructor and SkillsUSA advisor at CSEC for the past 10 years, and those 10 years have made a big impact on many young lives. Leff has assisted with the state Advertising Design competition since 1996, and her school now hosts the contest.

She also formed SkillsUSA Minnesota’ Alumni organization, which is running strong today. In 2007, she coached her first national Advertising Design Champion (Leff won a bronze herself in 1994), and she has committed herself to nurturing industry support for her program.

She’s also committed to lifelong learning, constantly making sure that her programs are technologically up-to-date and that her own skills are as sharp as possible. Leff is also active in service, working with the Magnifying Abilities program to introduce mentally handicapped adults to the stimulating world of design. “Her mentorship will always be something I value,” says a former student.

Jennifer Leff was honored as SkillsUSA Minnesota Secondary/ High School Advisor of the Year in 2008.