I’m a published author in the field of education with 25 years of experience developing engaging content for kids

Rethinking the Curriculum: Design for Social Justice and Sustainability book cover

For Educators

Reframing the Curriculum offers a practical, hands-on guide to weaving the concepts of healthy communities, democratic societies, and social justice across grades and disciplines.

The book outline the movements shaping the future, draws parallels to educational policy and practice, and guides readers through a curriculum “makeover” process using project-based learning and critical pedagogy. (And yes, you’ll meet required standards. Need examples? Check out some case studies from Creative Change, the nonprofit organization I directed from 1999-2020.)

Purchase or rent the book in hard copy or e-format, or Download free rubrics, templates, and other resources.

Interested in leading trainings and professional development programs? Fill out this short form, or contact me.

Works for Children

Non-Fiction

With a 30-year career focused on curriculum, consulting and teacher education, I’ve created a wealth of content for kids, focusing on the social- and environmental issues that will shape their futures. I want kids to understand the challenges facing the world while inspiring them to become agents of change. Examples: 

A TASTE OF CHANGE: FACES MAGAZINE (OCTOBER 2019)

My article, “A Taste of Change,” introduces youth to Fair Trade as a way to eliminate child labor in the global cocoa industry.

ADVISOR, WGBH/PBS KIDS

I served as Advisor for Plum Landing and LOOP SCOOPS, multimedia children’s environmental programs produced by PBS Kids/WGBH Boston. LOOP SCOOPS offers a series of videos on the science and economics of design, while Plum Landing combines animation, live action videos, and community-based activities to get kids exploring nature in their local communities. For both programs, I worked alongside animators and researchers to provide input on scripts, environmental content, and evaluation tools.

CURRICULUM FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

I developed a broad curriculum portfolio through Creative Change Educational Solutions, a nonprofit consulting firm I founded in 1999 and ran until 2020. Through partnerships with universities, nonprofit organizations, this work has reached thousands of teachers in multiple countries. Sample projects: 

  • An anti-discrimination curriculum and professional development program for the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project. Curriculum addresses racial, gender, class, ethnic, and religious discrimination. (2003)

  • A series of science and social studies lessons on the economic- and environmental aspects of Fair Trade for Fair Trade Campaigns. (2016)

  • A series of geography and science lessons on the cultural and scientific dimensions of climate change developed for the University of Minnesota. (2016)

  • A complete course on brownfields redevelopment (the remediation of contaminated properties) in collaboration with the Purdue University College of Engineering. (2009)

  • A suite of lessons on the science and economics of ecological design in partnership with Eastern Michigan University. (2007)

FICTION

I have fiction up my sleeve as well. My in-progress YA novel, The Shape of Change, was runner-up in the 2019 SCBWI-MI mentorship contest.

To hone my craft as a creator, I’m an active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and 12x12, an online community of picture book creators. I’m also a contributor to the community; I wrote a blog on social justice for SCBWI-MI and provided a webinar on aligning children’s books to curricular standards.