Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Walker.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Germantown, Tennessee, with my parents and my younger sister, Brooke, in a family that valued education, curiosity, and independence—principles that shaped my path.
I began college at the University of Memphis, then transferred to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where I became a proud Vol for Life. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Learning and Behavior with minors in Elementary Education and Psychology, and later a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.
During a sorority trip, I met Brian—by coincidence, we lived only four floors apart in the same apartment complex in Knoxville but didn’t meet until we were more than 1,300 miles from home. Two years later, we married and settled in Franklin. After a difficult infertility journey, IVF blessed us with our son, Aidan, and I became a full-time mom.
Knowing our family wasn’t complete, we adopted Ellie, a waiting child from China. She came home in January 2007 at two and a half years old. Later that year, we were surprised again with a pregnancy, and our daughter, Carlie, was born in June 2008.
When my sister and I couldn’t find the right preschool for our children, we built one ourselves. From a makeshift office in her guest bedroom, we created curriculum, secured funding, and opened PB & J Day School in January 2010. What began with five students grew into a thriving private preschool that we directed for 11 years before selling in December 2020. It remains a valued part of the Franklin community.
In this next chapter, I’ve embraced new passions—woodworking, crocheting, painting, gardening, baking, reading, Mah Jong, and lifelong learning—while Brian and I continue to prioritize travel and new adventures.
My life has been shaped by unexpected turns, perseverance, and a love of building something meaningful from the ground up.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges Brian and I faced was building our family. After years of trying to conceive, medical testing, and uncertainty, we learned we needed fertility treatment. Walking through IVF required patience, resilience, and a lot of hope before we were finally blessed with Aidan. Later, the adoption process to bring Ellie home from China was long and emotional as well, filled with paperwork, waiting, and the leap of faith that comes with international adoption.
Starting PB & J Day School brought a different kind of challenge. My sister and I were creating something from nothing—securing financing, putting our homes on the line, designing a building, and writing curriculum and policies. In the early days, enrollment was small, and we relied on determination and belief in our vision to grow.
Through each obstacle, persistence and a willingness to keep moving forward made the difference.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
PB & J Day School was a private academic preschool that served children 1 year to preK. We focused on child-centered learning. We established a business that cared for its staff, parents, and children.My sister and I do not own PB & J Day School anymore. We sold it December 2020. It is still a successful preschool with many of the our same employees on staff.
How do you think about luck?
Luck has certainly played a role in both my personal life and my career.
A chance meeting on a college trip introduced me to Brian, even though we lived only floors apart back in Knoxville. Years later, after the heartbreak and uncertainty of infertility, we were fortunate that IVF worked and brought us Aidan. Finding Ellie’s profile while scrolling one evening felt like another moment of fate—one look and I knew she was meant to be our daughter. Even Carlie’s surprise pregnancy felt like an unexpected gift.
In business, there was good fortune as well: securing funding after many attempts, opening our doors, and watching PB & J grow from five students to a thriving school that became part of the Franklin community. But luck alone wasn’t enough. Each opportunity still required risk, long hours, and the determination to follow through.
I’ve come to see luck as opening a door—but it was up to us to walk through it and build something meaningful on the other side.
