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Philosophy
Each of us has a part to play in creating hope. The best schools foster environments where hope is evident in the school’s mission, in the classroom, on the playing field, in the celebration of traditions, and in the hallways; such schools attract teachers and leaders who do the work “because it is good.” The simplicity of this purpose—serving goodness and hope—requires joy, spirit, creativity, clarity, hard work, and dependability. There is nothing simple about maintaining these values in the demanding environments of independent schools. Still, it is to these values I subscribe, for, in practicing them, I find my truth as an educator and leader.
Knowledge is most powerful when used to deepen one’s commitment to the citizens of the world. To this end, I believe students should be at the center of their own educational process. They should be the ones asking the questions, seeking the answers, and learning how to talk to one another. Our most courageous and successful school leaders provide conditions for teachers to achieve this goal in their classrooms.
"Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something
because it is good."
~ Vaclav Havel
The Madeira School, Coordinator of Global Citizenship
I returned to The Madeira School because I believe in the mission and look forward to sharing my creative, purposeful vision with a school that feels like my "alma mater," for it is here that I found my calling.
Chair, Haiti Outreach Pwoje Espwa
H.O.P.E. is an NGO in Borgne, Haiti that promotes Asset Based Community Development. Following the lead of our partners in Haiti our Board of Directors--comprised of Haitians and Americans and led by Haitian MD, Dr. Thony Voltaire--promotes health, education, and economic sustainability. Check out our work--of plan a visit to Borgne--at S.E.E. Haiti.
Sidwell Friends School, Teacher + Department Chair
Identified as one of the most innovative, creative, and effective teachers in the school, I helped-- over the course of the 10 years at Sidwell Friends--build a highly successful department, launched a number of initiatives related to project-based learning & global education, and I developed a city-wide reputation as an ethical educator with a profound commitment to student-centered learning.
Consultant, Curriculum Design
I have helped a number of schools integrate cultural competencies, racial literacy, and project-based learning into their history programs. I also plan experiential travel opportunities for students and families, primarily in Africa.
Executive Director, Youth S.E.E. Haiti
I have served for over a decade as a member of the H.O.P.E. Board of Trustees, and after developing a model for experiential learning in Haiti, I created and currently direct a Youth Board to develop the next generation of leaders in our work to foster adaptive self-empowerment in northern Haiti.
Professional Experience
Education
University of Chicago, MA African History
My Master's thesis focused on expressions of coded wisdom from Africa in 1930s West Indian public spaces. With this piece of intellectual history, I traced the various ways people in the Caribbean used African forms of knowledge to shape their understandings of national identity. Many of my courses were in the Divinity School, but my degree focused on History.
University of Rochester. Honors BA Political Science with a Minor in African & Af-Am Studies
I started my college career at a Community College and learned to see education as a privilege. From my earliest days as a student, I linked justice and education. It is my life's work to explore how the two relate and can be used as mutually constitutive mechanisms to build capacity.