Episode 31 - Jessica Dueñas: The sad reality of battling addictions during COVID19 - a teachers story

What we see on the outside of someone is not always what's going on on the inside of someone. This gripping and sad story is one of a teacher of the year who fought her addiction to alcohol while helping her students and community. It was a hard battle that nearly took her life more than once, but this brave woman is a warrior and survivor!

About Jessica:

Jessica Dueñas is a daughter, sister, friend, and advocate. She’s also known to many as Kentucky’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she is a first-generation American born to a Cuban father and Costa Rican mother. Jessica is the youngest of a combined eight children. Despite the barriers that she faced growing up, Jessica excelled academically and was the first in her family to attend college. While in college, Jessica began to battle addiction. Jessica eventually graduated and joined the workforce as a teacher, a dream she had for herself since childhood.

As Jessica dove into her career and her zeal for the profession and her students flourished, Jessica’s drinking began to have a stronger hold on her, leading her to suffer in silence for years. In recent times, Jessica has faced traumatic life events, including witnessing death. Those events, along with the pressures of being a nationally recognized award-winning teacher fueled Jessica’s disease until she reached a breaking point; it was time to change her life or face a tragic end to it. She chose herself and her sobriety above all else, leaving the teaching profession and everything behind to move forward and live a life of recovery.

Find Jessica on Twitter: @jduenas24, follow her work at www.jessicaduenas.net or email her at [email protected]. Jessica is available for speaking engagements and is eager to spread her message of hope to others in these difficult times.