I have spent many years getting to know young children, their families, and the many different school options in New York City. I began my work as an educator in District 2 public schools, followed by several years as a teacher of children ages 2 through 5 at The Washington Market School, then at Columbus Park West Nursery School.
I studied early childhood education at Bank Street, which gave me the tools to assess children’s different approaches to thinking and learning. As a teacher, I loved developing curriculum in many areas – math, language, art, music, science, and social studies. When I taught in the teacher training program at City College of NewYork for 5 years, I focused on child development and applying theory to teaching practice. I also taught a music methods course which was so much fun – integrating making music with understanding the brain science of its impact on development and learning!
As the Director of The Great Little School at Broadway Presbyterian Church for 13 years, I worked with families to find the right ongoing school fit for their children – from private to public, traditional to progressive, single-sex to co-ed, uptown to downtown, east side to west. The crux of working with parents to find the right school is a shared vision of who their child is, and how they best learn. It is also gratifying to offer guidance on the logistics and minutiae in what can inevitably feel like an overwhelming process for families. My relationships with admissions professionals play a key role as well.
When I counsel families, my mantra is, “I know children. But you know your child.” Working together with our respective expertise, we can collaborate to find the right school fit. Whether you are looking for the right early childhood program, ongoing private school, or public school options, I bring years of experience to help guide you.
I am also pleased to offer services for preschools and day care centers. I know all too well that the work of administering a school or childcare center is more than a full time job. For child care leaders who would like a mentor, or an exmissions specialist, in this nuanced work of supporting the transition to ongoing schools, I can help. I happily offer my years of experience with exmissions, and my familiarity with NYC private schools, as well as District 2 – 6 public schools.
I split my time between Washington Heights and the Hudson Valley, where I garden, go for lake swims, and hikes with my dogs. In my spare time, I collaborate on theater work with artists both in the city and upstate, and am currently writing my first play.