ABOUT ME

I’ve worked in education for the past 15 years as a classroom teacher, department chair, small school lead, and school founder and leader. I am trained in Council practices and have 12 years of facilitation and coaching experience. I’m committed to anti-racist practices and high expectations for all children.

I’ve spent half my career in the classroom, and half leading a school. I firmly believe that the most important work happening in schools is inside the classroom, and that the work of school leaders is to create the environment and structures to ensure every child receives an excellent education from a high-quality teacher.

I’m also the mother of these two amazing girls, who provide a constant and welcome reality check on the rich complexities of working with all of our weird and wonderful children.

TESTIMONIALS

“As a school leader, my priority is ensuring that my teachers and scholars have everything they need to be successful. As a school leader in the midst of a pandemic induced teacher shortage, my time and capacity to focus on our schoolwide priority has been limited. Sue has brought consistency and support in a time where that is hard to find. She is a constant, positive presence on campus and engages teachers in thoughtful, critical work around all things instruction. We are forever grateful for her!”

— Natasha Barriga, Resolute Academy

“Coaching with Sue is a gift. Especially amidst a chaotic pandemic, having a coach with high expectations and a warm supportive approach has been key in my continued growth and ability to stay grounded for myself and my team. I am a seasoned teacher, an administrator and professor so I need a coach who challenges and supports me at a high level. That said, I find myself wishing I could have worked with Sue as a new teacher.  Working with her has revived my beginner's mind and opened me up to get curious about my methods and reimagine my teaching practice within a supportive and practical structure.

One of the many things that sets Sue apart is her consistent reminders to return to myself as a person and educator: my values, my 'why', my North Star. As a queer and trans person, bringing my whole self to the work is relatively new to me, and finding a coach who can hold that complexity while pushing me towards my highest creative potential is again, a gift. Meeting with Sue renews my clarity, reminds me of my voice, my grit, my direction and my passion for this work.  I have grown as an educator, as a leader and most importantly a person in my work with Sue.”

— Andrew Sage Mendez-McLeish, Geffen Academy at UCLA

My Approach

  • Curiosity

    I listen and observe to identify the real issues and get to the root of the challenge…and then I stay curious to see what’s working and why.

  • Empathy

    I put the challenge in context, and use a human-centered approach that meets you and your team where you are to sustain (or reignite) your professional passion and growth.

  • Integrity

    All of our students deserve excellence. I am committed to an educational and leadership approach that embraces anti-racism and high expectations for all.

QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.

HAVE QUESTIONS OR JUST WANT TO CHAT? BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH ME.