I am a published writer and award-winning teacher. I taught English—and yoga—at Santa Monica High School for a decade. I’ve also been a writing coach and poetry teacher at John Adams Middle School. I now work for the Santa Monica Malibu School District as a literacy coach, working to help all teachers teach writing better across the curriculum.

 Away from school, I have been a full-time writing/college essay/SAT tutor since my daughter's birth almost 16 years ago (I now have three kids!). I work with private, public, and home-schooled students grades 6-12 to improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills--and help them get into the colleges of their dreams

 I grew up in Westport, CT, got a BA from NYU, a Masters in English Education at Columbia, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry at Bennington College. I was also a professional dancer in my youth. My first teaching jobs included running a tap dancing class for senior citizens and introducing musical theater to toddlers. I have waited tables, competed in triathlons (and one marathon), and I am told I cook a mean linguine with clam sauce.