I help students turn career and life goals into self-directed action.
I partner with schools and universities to help their students better manage their time and attention, self-regulate their learning, build confidence, and turn goals into sustained action. I also train educators, advisors, and mentors to reinforce these capabilities in their students.
Anonymous Feedback
What my students and educators say:
“Made me ask questions and think on a deeper level about the concepts. Daniel De Jesus changed my outlook on education. I actually valued and appreciated what I was learning, instead of only caring about my grade.”
“The reflections have helped me not only think for myself, but also dive deeper into these thoughts and the meaning behind them. I feel like they have been very helpful in building my own connections with the material and furthering my understanding.”
“The instructor allows a longer period of silence after asking us a question. This provides the space for everyone to think more deeply and give an answer. As time has gone on, this has created more confidence in the students to share their own thoughts and ideas regarding what is being taught. The instructor is also very personable, allowing students to feel comfortable in his classroom.”
“Professor De Jesus is literally the best professor I have ever had. He makes class extremely engaging and makes even ‘mundane’ lessons fun and exciting. It is obvious that he genuinely cares about teaching but also his students and he makes it a priority to get to know each of us. I cannot give him and his class enough praise.”
Read more commentsShow less
“The instructor is great at actually encouraging us to think, not memorize information. In fact, I haven't memorized a thing for this course, and I feel like I've learned more from this course than any other I've taken this semester. He has instructed us in a way I hope to instruct my future students, in a way that makes me want to learn and really enjoy the class. One of the most effective parts of the course has been the way he goes through the lessons with pauses, telling us what he's doing and why he's doing it (and guiding us to figure out why on our own) so that we can someday use the same methods. He also takes the time to provide a great amount of feedback for every student.”
“Dr. De Jesus was very effective in helping us as students understand how to think through things critically and how to solve problems that may arise in our future classrooms.”
“He creates a safe space for students to speak up on their own ideas without perfecting them first, but also he is kind when an idea might not be completely correct and never judgemental”
“Sent lots of tools, resources, and materials to be looked over before and after class so students could take responsibility for their own learning and expanding on topics.”
“I wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying your class. You are genuinely pushing me out of my comfort zone to think deeper and to be able to express my thoughts in a deeper meaning. Usually, on Friday mornings at the office, we discuss class and what technique you used that week. It is fascinating how you can ask questions that keep the conversation going and help facilitate the discussion in the right direction. By the end of this class, it's my goal to articulate my thoughts in writing and my verbal responses. Having the discussion questions at the end of the class has helped me continue to think about them throughout the week and do a little research on each topic. I have started to write questions down from this week to prepare for our next class. Thank you for investing in us to ensure we have the best experience and outcome from your teaching.”
“Dr. de Jesus was awesome! I really appreciate his passion for the content, it made it that much easier to be engaged and apply myself in the class. He not only effectively taught the content but also prepared us for the classroom and life in general. I'm very grateful to have had him as my professor this semester!”
Read the latest feedback report from my students and educators · Sep 2026
Student success depends on more than course knowledge and grades.
Schools, universities, and workplaces expect students to regulate attention and emotions, manage effort, follow through on meaningful goals, learn from setbacks, and navigate increasing independence.
However, the actions and processes that foster self-regulated learning strategies are rarely taught explicitly (Dignath & Büttner, 2018; Kistner et al., 2010). A meta-analysis of 49 university studies found that self-regulation skills can be taught and that doing so can improve students’ motivation and academic performance (Theobald, 2021).
Employers place greater importance on soft skills than students think (Succi & Canovi, 2020). Recent graduates also tend to overestimate their proficiency in communication, setting goals, and managing their careers (Gray, 2025).
Dr. Daniel J. De Jesús is an educator, researcher, and consultant with a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. His experience includes working with students and educators internationally through university teaching, educator preparation, precollege STEM programs, mentoring, research, and bilingual education.
Contact me about student needs in time management, self-directed learning, or major professional transitions. I will tailor an approach to your school or program.