When Jen Rettig walked into her first Escuela 101—a lunch-hour introduction to Escuela de Guadalupe featuring student speakers and a classroom tour—she didn’t expect to be so moved. But there it was: a bilingual science lesson set to a Taylor Swift song, sung by a classroom of young students switching seamlessly between English and Spanish.
“I was like… this is brilliant. I’m in,” she recalls. And from that day forward, she was.
What captivated Jen that day wasn’t just the creativity or academic rigor—it was the authenticity of the place. The students who spoke struck her with their poise and fluency. And the bilingual curriculum—a few weeks of instruction in English, then Spanish, across all subjects—felt both ambitious and deeply aligned with her worldview. Having lived in central Mexico during college, Jen felt a special connection to the Spanish-speaking community. “Those people just welcomed us in such a way that I’ll never forget,” she says. “South Americans to me are amazing and warm and smart and hardworking.”
That connection sparked a commitment that has only deepened over the years.
From CBS to Salud: A Storytelling Powerhouse
Before founding her own video production and photography company, Rettig + Co., Jen cut her teeth in broadcasting, working at CBS News and later at Comcast. Since going freelance in 2012, her career has soared—propelled entirely by word-of-mouth. She’s produced content for companies and organizations around the country, and has met many high-profile clients, including Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and current Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford; Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and USAID administrator; and celebrity athletes Peyton Manning, Champ Bailey, Carl Mecklenburg, and Chris “Birdman” Andersen.
Her storytelling lens has graced global stages—and yet, she says the most meaningful work she does is often closer to home.
The Storyteller of Salud—and the Heart Behind It
Since the very first Salud in 2014, Jen has been the creative force behind Escuela’s most moving videos. Her short films bring to life the stories of Escuela students and families—shining a light on the transformative power of bilingual, Catholic education.
“I’m really confident about one thing,” she says. “Making a heartfelt video for Salud that works. That’s what I can do.”
These aren’t just projects. They are personal missions. Her first Salud video featured a family whose story left a lasting mark on her.
“I just kinda loved them,” she says. “They were hardworking, honest, and real.”
Since then, Jen has filmed nearly every Fr. Tom Prag Service Award honoree and many milestone moments, capturing Escuela’s living history.
It’s not just the camera work—it’s the way she feels her way into the soul of Escuela. She has photographed students whose images now appear proudly on Escuela’s website—smiling, confident, and full of promise. Her work embodies empowerment.
Champion, Connector, and Committee Dynamo
Jen is also a super-volunteer. She serves on the committee that plans Salud, helping secure tequila donations and building partnerships. She’s helped preserve the stories of Escuela’s most influential partners, such as Judy Ward, Tom Reynolds, and Jenn Cherveny, as well as countless families who shaped the school.
And then there’s Brian—her husband—who cried the first time he saw one of her Escuela videos. That moment moved him to become a donor too.
A Day in Her Honor—and a Philosophy that Guides It All
In 2023, Jen was honored with a community award that came with a unique prize: Denver officially proclaimed April 11 as “Jennifer Rettig Day.” Nominated by Kenzie’s Causes, a nonprofit she supports with pro bono videos and family portraits, Jen received the award for her extraordinary volunteerism across the city.
She celebrated the first Jennifer Rettig Day with a happy hour with friends. She jokes that she’s still working on making T-shirts.
When asked why she gives so much, Jen doesn’t talk about charity—she talks about dignity.
“Instead of feeling sorry for somebody, why not empower them?” she says. That simple philosophy threads through every frame of her work.
Looking Ahead: Escuela’s Future Through Jen’s Eyes
As for the future, Jen dreams big.
“I hope Escuela becomes a beacon to the rest of the country,” she says. “It’s a really good model—especially for dual-language speakers. These kids are going to go out and do amazing things. We need that.”
In Jen Rettig, Escuela has found more than a media partner. It’s found a champion—one who believes in the brilliance of bilingual kids, who captures their stories with reverence, and who walks alongside this community as a friend, a witness, and a giver.
And that—like her videos—is a gift that keeps giving.
