About Me
Who I Am
I'm a New York City- and Miami-based author, educational consultant, and social entrepreneur. I'm also a Miami native, a lifelong bookworm, a product of public and independent schools, a magna cum laude Harvard graduate, an alum of the Chef's Training Program at the Natural Gourmet Institute, a marathon runner, the owner of a pink Vespa, the author of The Cocoon on Substack, and everyone's favorite aunt. I help teachers and leaders stay connected to their passion and purpose as educators so they can sustainably provide all students with joyful, enchanting, and empowering learning experiences – without burning out.
What I Do
I propel schools, districts, and organizations to ask “What if?” about teaching and learning. As the founder and CEO of two NYC and NYS MWBE-certified businesses–What If Schools, an educational consultancy that helps educators design new schools and redesign existing ones, and Boogie Down Books, a bookstore-without-walls® for kids, teens, families, and educators in the Bronx and beyond–I combine my lifelong passion for reading and learning with two decades in education to help my clients transform their professional learning offerings. My goal is always to provide teachers with PD experiences that are just as vibrant, empowering, enchanting, and inspiring as the instruction we want them to provide for their students.
Why I Do It
High-quality professional learning is a right, not a reward. Teachers are learners first, and all learners–students and adults–should have access to experiences that ignite their curiosity and drive more questions. If we want students to have those experiences in classrooms every day, teachers need those experiences in PD. I work with leaders, learners, and designers seeking a thought partner who’s not afraid to go too far. My clients hire me because they know that the status quo is not working for student and/or adult learners in their community; they’re ready to ask “What if?” about teaching and learning with the support of an experienced, knowledgeable, and empathetic coach; and they want to blow up the box, not just think outside it.