Nice to meet you.
I am a writer, illustrator, and career educator who tackles big issues with imagination to make them accessible and entertaining for kids, teens and the adults in their lives (especially teachers).
I have 30 years of experience in curriculum, policy, and teacher preparation (details). At the University of Michigan (and formerly, Eastern Michigan University), I taught graduate- and undergraduate courses on educational policy, social justice, multicultural education, and sustainability/ecological economics education.
In 2002 I founded Creative Change, a non-profit consulting firm focused on curriculum redesign. With clients ranging from K12 districts to universities to the United Nations, our programs continue to reach global audiences. My book, Reframing the Curriculum, compiles the approaches, carrying on the spirit of Creative Change.
In 2023, I hung up my teaching hat, but remain committed to leaving kids a better world. That’s why I’m shifting from curriculum to children's books--a move puts my creative/artistic skills on the front burner. My works in progress include an illustrated young adult fantasy novel and nonfiction picture books. By putting education and imagination into a blender, I aim to present content in more unique and entertaining ways to inspire joy, curiosity, and hope. Learn more in this interview with the Michigan Chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where I serve on the Equity and Inclusion team. My current work in progress is an illustrated young adult fantasy novel with ecological/economic themes (and angsty teen romance, of course). Watch this space (or Instagram) for a sneak peak at the illustrations.
I was born in Philly and raised in the Chicago area in a Catholic-Jewish household. (My father’s Italian; my mother is Ashkenazi Jewish). Raised Catholic, I drifted away from the faith for decades but have come back , inspired by Pope Francis and Catholic Social Teachings’ emphasis on human dignity and environmental stewardship. I’ve lived in Seattle, Germany, and Vermont. I’ve now made southeast Michigan my home and have been a resident of Ypsilanti (Ann Arbor’s quirky neighbor) for over 20 years. In my free time I enjoy painting, all things silly, and anything active (flag football, a bike ride . . . you game?). A self-identified language nerd, I’m always brushing up on my Spanish and German. (I got pretty good at Hindi for a trip to India many years ago.) A small mammal aficionado, I’m a proud mom of rescue rabbits and guinea pigs.