Sunny Days

As the Director of Content and Curriculum at Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, Jen Sanders’ career in childhood education began long before she joined Sesame Street’s iconic team.

“I always knew I wanted to make an impact in the lives of children,” she says, reflecting on her early days teaching preschool. “Eventually, I shifted my focus outside the classroom to reach more kids— especially those in underserved communities—by creating meaningful educational content.”

When asked about her favorite character, her answer is immediate: the ultimate hype feathered friend. “My personal favorite character is Big Bird— I love his curiosity and compassion for others. He is a really good friend.” she shares. Sanders recalls her childhood obsession. “I’d wake my mom up at 2 a.m. asking when he’d be on TV. I loved Sesame Street and still remember the Street Stories and learning my ABCs!”

INNOVATION STATION

Sanders’ portfolio at Sesame Workshop reads like a global adventure, reshaping content development with her innovative approach. “I work on content development across multiple media platforms, such as new spinoffs, podcasts, toys, live shows and theme park activities,” she says. Typical days involve developing curriculum for new shows, ensuring toys are educational, writing teacher guides for the educational play center at American Dream mall and reviewing scripts to meet learning objectives. Her background includes projects like Sesame Street, Baghch-e-Simsim (the Afghan co-production of Sesame Street), Bea’s Block, Helpsters (co-created by Apple TV), and the Sesame Street Audible series.

SCOOTERS AND SUBURBAN BLISS

For nearly 12 years, Sanders and her family have been soaking up the charm of Millburn. “We moved here because there was a strong sense of community and we loved the walkability,” she says. With her husband Josh and their kids, Jordan (12) and Zoe (10), they enjoy savoring sushi at Sushi Zero, and summers mean ice cream escapades. Spring transforms Taylor Park into their personal playground, with dog walks and the kids buzzing around on their scooters.

PUPPET PIONEERS

In the ever-evolving scope of children’s programming, Sanders stands at the forefront, navigating the digital landscape with creativity and heart.

“How children digest and consume media is very different now from when Sesame Street first aired or even ten or five years ago,” she says. With kids accessing content from a myriad of sources, Sesame Workshop continuously experiments with different platforms to maximize reach and impact. However, the heart and mission of Sesame have always stayed the same.

Since its debut in 1969, Sesame Street has been a staple in children’s media, now celebrating its 56th season. Sanders fondly remembers the magic of watching Caroll Spinney on set, bringing to life the contrasting characters of Oscar and Big Bird. “He was the puppeteer and voice for both characters (for almost fifty years!), and it was very cool to watch him play both roles,” she shares. New Muppets join.

BY EVE GOLDEN