We are the people in the room who cheer when tasked with team projects. We’re passionate about academic, interdisciplinary, equitable, social and emotional learning. We read state and national education standards for fun. We see learning opportunities everywhere and are writing curriculum and designing children’s programs in our heads nonstop. Educating and learning from young people is our business – and we love it.
Teacher
New York, NY
Magda is a New York City public high school English teacher with over fifteen years experience. She has a Master's of Arts in English and a Master's of Science in Education, teaches AP English and oversees the production of her school’s literary magazine and newspaper. She also advises the National Honor Society. She loves art museums, the theater, and all kinds of creative writing!
Teacher
Englewood, CO
Michelle Assaad has been teaching elementary and middle school for 18+ years with a focus on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). Michelle is a media specialist and technology coordinator at her middle school. She has a BA in Speech Communications, with a minor in Elementary Education and a Master's in Instructional Technology. When she is not exploring the newest advances in technology, she loves exploring the outdoors, doing yoga, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog.
Teacher
Long Island, NY
Cortney is a high school Social Studies teacher in Long Island, NY. From teaching preschool to high school and almost every grade in between, Cortney has over 20 years in the classroom. She received a BS in Elementary Education from UCF in Orlando and a Master's degree in Social Studies Education from NYU. Cortney is the advisor of her high school’s robotics team, is an avid NY Rangers hockey fan, and loves to travel.
Teacher
Littleton, CO
Audrey has been an elementary school teacher for 14+ years and has taught kindergarten through fifth grade. She loves to teach reading and writing and has a passion for watching her learners grow both academically and emotionally. Audrey earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and loves to create new, innovative, and equitable curricula for literacy instruction. When she is not in the classroom, she is a mom to two teenage boys and spends her free time skiing, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors in the Colorado mountains.
Teacher
New York, NY
Morgan is a transplant to NYC raised in Baltimore, Maryland. A graduate of Hampton University with a BA in English Language Arts and a Master’s of Education from The City College of New York, she has been a Lead Teacher and Curriculum Developer for most of her career focusing on increasing diversity and inclusion. Morgan is a spontaneous podcaster, burgeoning writer, eclectic artist, and most importantly mom of one useta-be-a-kid-but-getting-closer-to-a-grown-man son, Miles. For strictly research purposes only, Morgan spends her free time devouring YA literature and trying to find creative ways of getting teens to fall in love with words and helping them to find a voice in a world that may not always give them the mic freely.
Artist, Designer
Brighton, MA
Tim is a Boston-based artist and designer with a passion for creation. His inclinations and expertise have led to him working primarily with community, non-profit, and cause-based clients and campaigns, especially at-risk youth. He is an avid reader and also enjoys skiing, rock-climbing, and creating themed playlists. You can find a selection of his work at timhenderson.design
Teacher
Englewood, CO
Kelly is a mama, a teacher, a writer, and an aspiring world traveler. She is enjoying 19+ years of teaching in the elementary setting, and believes this is a truly magical time in the life of a young reader or writer. In addition to teaching in the primary classroom, Kelly is also an affiliate instructor for Regis University in the College of Education, Master’s Degree of Reading program. Working with teachers is a passion of hers as she continues to be awed by the importance of the profession. Late at night her garage is often humming with the sound of tools as Kelly and her husband love to work together "up-cycling" items for home decor. She finds it a fun challenge to look at something that has been discarded or forgotten, and make it beautiful and purposeful again.
Co-Founder, Co-President
Newburyport, MA
Sharon supervised student teachers at Columbia University Teachers College. She taught English at the High School of Fashion Industries in NYC where she collaborated with Lincoln Center's Open Stages theater education program. Sharon's experiences span classroom instruction, curriculum development, and life-skills training for students with unique and special needs. Her educational journey has taken her to NYC, Colorado, Czech Republic and Massachusetts. She received her BA in Communications and a minor in English from Fairfield University and a Master’s of Education from the University of New Hampshire. Sharon is passionate about interdisciplinary and equitable learning, and helping young humans make connections between their studies and their own, personal and important worlds. She is also passionate about local, independent movie theaters, hiking, and snuggling on the couch with her husband, her daughters, her dog and a good book.
Designer, Illustrator
Brooklyn, NY
Maeve Norton is an award-winning illustrator and designer based in Brooklyn, NY. She currently works as a senior book designer for middle grade and young adult novels at Scholastic where she enjoys hand lettering and collaborating with many fabulous illustrators. When not knee-deep in books, Maeve can be found making an assortment of crafts or enjoying the sunshine on her stoop in Bushwick. You can find a selection of Maeve’s work at maevenorton.com.
Teacher
Starkville, MS
Shanika Parker is a teacher, social justice activist, and Fiona the Hippo enthusiast. She is fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher in Mississippi!!! She has a B.S. in Education with concentrations in English and Spanish. Shanika wants to create a brave space for all students to see themselves and others both in the classroom and outside the classroom. She loves her Lucy!
Teacher
Londonderry, NH
Shannon has been teaching for over 20 years at the elementary level. She has a BA in History and a Master’s in Education. Her passions lie in creating lessons for learners that reach all of their needs and that weave Social Emotional Learning throughout. She loves a good challenge when it comes to making magic happen in the classroom. When she isn’t teaching, Shannon splits her time as a hockey mom and a dance mom.
Occupational Therapist
West Newbury, MA
Erin Rich is a school-based occupational therapist who has supported children of all ages, their families, and educational teams on the North Shore of MA for 20 years. She is also a graduate instructor at Lesley University, specializing in creating safe and supportive, trauma-sensitive schools and meeting diverse learning needs. Erin embraces collaboration and has a passion for accessible curriculum that champions all learners. She and her husband are fortunate to raise her three sons on her family’s farm in West Newbury, MA.
Co-Founder, Co-President
New York, NY
Erica Rand Silverman taught English, Theater, Conflict Resolution and was a Dean of Discipline at Fashion Industries High School in NYC. While teaching she was also an educational consultant for The Inner Resilience Program. There she honed her interests in social and emotional learning and classroom management. Erica now works in the publishing industry as a children's literary agent at Stimola Literary Studio. She received her BS in Secondary English Education from University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Master's of Art in Theater from Hunter College. Room 228 enables her to remain keyed into her first love - the field of education - while representing today's best authors and illustrators and ushering in new and meaningful children's books to the marketplace.
School Counselor
New York, NY
Alba is a school and mental health counselor who works to empower and advocate for young people. She received a BA in Romance Languages from Richard Stockton College and a Master’s of Science in School Counseling from Hunter College. Over the past seven years, Alba has worked with New York City elementary school children in the South Bronx. When Alba is not teaching children Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills she is observing Mother Nature’s beauty and enjoying her family. Alba has a passion for bird watching, learning and being an aunt.
Teacher
Starkville, MS
Tracei is a teacher, voracious reader, writer and social justice warrior. She has completed over 300 hours of education in the history of the Holocaust and Civil Rights. As a teacher trainer for TOLI, she plans and directs a 3-day seminar each summer in her home state of Mississippi to train educators to teach about these critical topics. Tracei never misses an opportunity to put books in the hands of kids of all ages. With each year she teaches, she unfailingly feels the love from her small humans.