About Me

It must be deep in my DNA—a biological imperative to teach, coach, and guide others in all things children and education. At seven years old, I transformed our Philadelphia basement into a classroom, complete with lesson plans, a real chalkboard, slick white chalk, and those prized all-felt erasers. I gathered classmates after school and declared, for the next 13 years, that I would become an elementary school teacher. My mission? To reshape how children experience school—not as a place they had to be, but as a joyful space they wanted to be. I believed then, as I do now, that loving to learn can be taught—and that teaching must be joyful, loving, and compassionate experience.

I was lucky to grow up in a neighborhood with an outstanding public high school. While most of my friends were social flirty butterflies, I quietly found joy in pleasing my English, Math, History, and Science teachers. Secretly smart, I hid my academic ranking and was offered a place at the University of Pennsylvania—one of the few Ivy League schools with a Graduate School of Education. There, visionary professors inspired me to believe that education could be a force for transformation.

For over 20 years, I taught every grade and subject from first through eighth in the Philadelphia School District. My days began early and ended late, filled with before-school mentoring and after-school jazz dance lessons for public school students. Unlike many colleagues who kept families at a distance, I welcomed parents into my classroom every day. I loved them as I loved my students—and in turn, they welcomed me into their homes and hearts. It became clear to me: we don’t just teach children—we nurture families and communities. That truth blossomed into recognition from peers and parents alike, including multiple nominations for Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year and two City Teacher of the Year awards.

After my parents’ heartbreaking untimely deaths, I felt called to leave my hometown and begin a new chapter. Divine timing led me to Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica, California. I spent 25 joyful years there—first as a teacher, then as Dean of Students for 21 of those years. Crossroads was founded by the visionary Paul Cummins, who believed that schools could be places where children feel safe, seen, and inspired to be lifelong learners. In my role as Dean, I found fertile ground for deepening family relationships and building thriving, heart-filled school communities.

Over 40 years in education, I pursued hundreds of hours of graduate coursework, professional development, and social-emotional training—not only to master curriculum, but to guide whole families. I’ve presented workshops on tech safety, diversity and equity, social-emotional skills, the Way of Council, and best-practice parenting tools. Still, my favorite titles came not from certificates or awards, but from second and third graders who lovingly renamed my office: "The Kindness Coach" and "The Friendship Doctor."

Now, with deep gratitude for a fulfilling career, I’ve shifted focus to where I believe the greatest impact begins - with parents and caregivers. After all, they're the ultimate "first responders."  When adults feel sturdy, children grow strong. When parents feel seen and supported, families thrive—and when families thrive, so does our future.💛