Magda Adamczyk
Educator
New York, NY
Magda is a New York City public high school English teacher with over twenty-three 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.
Cortney Brandwein
Educator
Long Island, NY
Cortney is a mother of two beautiful children and 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 twenty-five years in the classroom. She received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and a Master’s degree in social studies education from New York University. Cortney is the co-advisor of her high school’s robotics team, is an avid NewYork Rangers hockey fan, and loves to travel.
Morgan Cuffie
Educator
New York, NY
Morgan Cuffie is a twelve year Harlemite by way of Baltimore, MD. A mom, a high school educator and a creative, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Hampton University and a Master’s in Education from The City College of New York. Throughout her twenty-one year teaching career she has created innovative programs for teens reflecting on everything from social justice to fashion journalism to life skills. Currently providing teacher preparation and pedagogical training to high school students who might enter the teaching profession, her expertise lies in childhood development and education practices. Morgan is also a Birth Doula supporting underserved communities and moms throughout New York City. When not teaching or working with clients you can find her writing, painting, and creating the beauty she would like to see in the world.
Tim Henderson
Graphic Designer
New York, NY
Tim Henderson is an NYC-based graphic designer and marketing professional. He was raised in Massachusetts, and obtained a degree in graphic design and creative advertising from James Madison University in 2019. In his ten years as a professional designer, Tim has developed a specialty in typography and long-form design projects, which he most enjoys employing on behalf of educational and cause-based clients. In his free time, Tim enjoys reading, making playlists, and cooking. A selection of his work can be viewed at timhendersondesign.com.
Sharon Kennedy
Co-Founder, President
North Shore, MA
Sharon is a former public high school English teacher at the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City. There she collaborated with Lincoln Center’s Open Stages theater education program. She supervised graduate student teachers at Columbia University Teachers College. Sharon’s experiences span classroom instruction, curriculum development, and life-skills training for students with learning differences. Her educational journey has taken her to NYC, Colorado, Czech Republic and Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Fairfield University and earned a Master 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 and bookstores, the arts, hiking, and snuggling on the couch with her husband, her daughters, her dog, and a good book.
Shanika Parker
Educator
Mississippi
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 Bachelor of Science 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 cats, reading, and coffee!
Shannon Rheault
Educator
New Hampshire
Shannon has been teaching for over twenty-five years at the elementary level. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master’s in Education. Her passion lies in designing meaningful learning experiences that meet the needs of every student while thoughtfully weaving in Social Emotional Learning. She thrives on the challenge of making a little classroom magic happen each day. Outside of the classroom, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family and relaxing at the beach whenever she can. She appreciates a good balance of structure and spontaneity—both in her teaching and in her everyday life.
Erin Rich
School-Based Occupational Therapist | MSOT, OTR, OT
North Shore, MA
Erin is a school-based occupational therapist who loves supporting children of all ages, their families, and educational teams. 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 creating accessible curriculum that champions both literacy and inclusion for all learners, with particular focus on supporting neurodiverse students and building resilience. She and her husband raised their three sons on her family’s historic farm in Massachusetts.
Daniel Robles
Educator
Los Angeles, CA
Daniel Robles is an English teacher and curriculum designer with over twenty years of experience. He teaches in Los Angeles, where he leads the 9th grade English team and teaches AP Literature and senior electives, Latinx Literature and Queer Literature. With a Bachelor of Arts in Latino Studies from Columbia University and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from Loyola Marymount University, he draws on his experience as a queer son of Mexican immigrants to center diverse voices and foster rigorous, discussion-driven inquiry around identity, power, and representation—seeing literature as a space for both critical thinking and human connection.
Erica Rand Silverman
Co-Founder | Advisor-at-Large
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 Bachelor of Science 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.
Alba Ureña
School & Clinical Mental Health Counselor | LMHC-D
New York, NY
Alba is a school and Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-D) who works to empower and advocate for young people. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages from Richard Stockton College and a Master of Science in School Counseling from Hunter College. Over the past twelve 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 enjoys observing the beauty of Mother Nature and spending time with her family. Alba has a passion for bird watching, learning, and being an aunt
Tracei Willis
Educator
Mississippi
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 and is still finding ways to increase her knowledge on these topics. Tracei never misses an opportunity to put books in the hands of kids of all ages. She currently teaches 7th-12th grade English at an alternative school in Mississippi. Tracei believes wholeheartedly in the Bryan Stevenson quote that “each of us is worth more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
