I’ve spent more than three decades in public education working as a teacher, principal, and district-level leader. Over that time, I’ve lived through multiple waves of reform, shifting instructional philosophies, and changing expectations for schools. My perspective is shaped by what I’ve seen work in classrooms, what has failed at scale, and what tends to get lost when systems swing too far in either direction. My work centers on literacy, professional learning, and leadership coherence. I’m especially interested in how research is translated into practice, how teachers experience change initiatives, and how leaders can support improvement without adding unnecessary complexity.

My Work as an Educational Leader

Throughout my career, I’ve led curriculum development, supported instructional improvement, and worked closely with teachers and administrators across multiple grade levels. These experiences inform my writing and reflections here.

This site is a space to reflect on the middle ground; what’s worth holding onto from the past, what needs to change, and how schools can move forward with clarity and purpose.

Recent Presentations & Professional Learning

Every Minute Counts: Building Fluency, Vocabulary, and Confidence in Elementary Readers
District professional learning session focused on practical literacy instruction aligned to research based practices.

The Language Comprehension Learning Academy
A professional learning model grounded in Scarborough’s Reading Rope that supports teachers in building vocabulary, background knowledge, and comprehension through coherent instructional practices.

Building the Foundation: The Three Pillars of an Effective Classroom
A new teacher professional learning session focused on how clarity, consistency, and connection create the conditions for effective instruction and meaningful student learning.

From Gaps to Gains: Transforming Literacy
A professional learning session focused on identifying instructional gaps and implementing coherent, research aligned practices that strengthen literacy outcomes.

What I’m Currently Reading

Dr. Scott Rocco

The YES Pile emphasizes a mindset of opportunity, encouraging leaders to focus on possibilities rather than barriers. It promotes saying “yes” to ideas that move students and organizations forward, while being intentional about aligning those opportunities with purpose and impact.

Dr. David Aderhold

The Octopus Mindset presents leadership as adaptive and responsive, using the octopus as a metaphor for balancing flexibility, intelligence, and strategic reach. It emphasizes leading complex systems by staying aware, adjusting quickly, and maintaining focus on what matters most.

Dr. Sean Covey

The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Sean Covey outlines a practical framework for turning strategy into results by focusing on a few critical goals, tracking lead measures, maintaining visible scoreboards, and building accountability through regular check-ins. It is built on a simple premise: execution fails not from lack of vision, but from losing focus amid daily demands.

✅ Recently READ ✅

Evolving Education: Shifting to a Learner-Centered Paradigm

An examination of how schools can thoughtfully adapt to change while honoring what works, with a focus on learner centered practices and purposeful innovation.

Dr. Katie Martin

Personalize: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners

Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh

A practical framework for designing learning environments that honor learner variability through intentional personalization and responsive instructional practices.

Marc Tucker

Leading High-Performance School Systems: Lessons from the World’s Best.

A systems focused examination of high performing education systems around the world, highlighting how coherence, workforce development, and aligned policy enable all students to access rigorous learning. Tucker challenges leaders to move beyond fragmented reforms and consider how global models prioritize equity, professional expertise, and long term system design rather than short term initiatives.

Big Ideas, Real Impact.

Here are a few of the initiatives that I’ve led over the years, for which I’m very proud.

Literacy Leadership

  • Reading League Professional Development for all teachers K-5

  • Led the team to choose a new comprehensive ELA program

  • Facilitated LETRS training for 32 voluntary faculty members

  • Planned K-6 Literacy PD aligned to P.L. 2024 c52.

Curriculum Revisions K-5

  • Revised K-5 ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science

  • Aligned to be a thinking curriculum where students Collect, Connect, Communicate, Create & Capitalize.

School Based Initiatives​

  • Started the Wall Business & Finance Academy - Wall High School

  • WIS Holiday Shimmer Spectacular​​ - Community Event & Fundraiser

  • Created and administered the Summer Knight Academy for Grades K-5

  • Love Just One Campaign  ​

  • Rebranded Wall Primary School 

  • Academic Excellence Recognition Program​

  • Started a chapter of National Junior Honor Society at WIS

  • WIS Health & Wellness Fair​

  • WIS Choir Trip to Broadway​​

  • 8th Grade Overnight Trip to Gettysburg & Hershey​

  • 8th Grade Charity Soccer Game

  • WBFA Networking Social​​​​