I was raised by an exceptional single mother who cared deeply about education. The lack of convention in our family unit of two was the training ground for my ability to meet children and families where they are and provide guidance and answers. With over twenty-five years of experience in five Bay Area independent schools, I began my career as a second and third grade teacher at Marin Horizon School and then found my home on admin teams and in admission offices across four of the most well known schools in the Bay Area.

SUPPORTING WITH EMPATHY

MENTORSHIP & GUIDANCE

I have mentored admission directors, admin teams, heads of school, and independent school boards throughout the U.S. and Canada through Atidenu, Prizmah’s signature program in enrollment strategy, focusing on maximizing their relevance through training in recruitment and retention, market segmentation, program & brand strategy, and high touch admissions. I consulted with Proof School in San Francisco during its founding, focusing on administrative structure, school policies and practice, admission standards, and board education.

LEADERSHIP IN ADMISSIONS

I served on the board of the Bay Area Directors of Admission (BADA) with over 110 member schools in the Bay Area, finishing out my term in Summer 2023 as president of the organization. I’ve mentored, taught, coached, and engaged colleagues through various professional development venues, including the Association of Independent School Professionals Annual Institute, Enrollment Management Association virtual seminars, and the BADA Spring Symposium over the last fifteen years.

I never could have anticipated the journey that began the day my first child was born.

MY PARENTING JOURNEY

There was nothing in the parenting books that even remotely resembled my child. I felt alone, and with every developmental stage a new wave of questions and fears came with very few answers. We were outliers in every situation. We rarely made it all the way through a playdate, birthday party, or gathering without a major issue, resulting in a tantrum and then a messy and quick escape. Getting our child dressed each day could take up to 45 minutes. I was exhausted, confused, and worried our preschool director would kick us out. This went on for years until I finally stopped worrying about how things looked on the outside and tuned into what our daughter was actually trying to show and tell us. I began to realize that my understanding of her was not in sync with her needs and desires. I truly started to listen, whether or not I liked what I was hearing.

With each passing year I’ve grown more curious and skilled in truly knowing, seeing, and supporting every child. I meet hundreds of new families each admission season and have observed in countless schools and programs across the Bay Area over the past twenty-five years.

I see it as my responsibility to ensure that every child lands where they belong. Friends and colleagues send families to me to get real and honest guidance about what to do next.

My family is a family of students and educators. I like to say it’s all school all the time in our home. We have a deep appreciation for the fact that children learn and grow differently, sometimes very differently. Holding and working with that difference is a joy. My partner teaches middle school at a local independent school. Our oldest child is now in college. We also have a daughter in elementary school, and a son in high school.

When I’m not at school working with children and families, I enjoy spending time with chosen family and friends over home cooked meals or on the trails on Mount Tamalpais. You’ll often find me on a bike, hike, or swim first thing in the morning. 

MY BACKGROUND

Director of Admissions & Marketing
Mount Tamalpais School, Mill Valley, CA

Assistant Head of Campus for Admissions & High School Placement
Brandeis Marin, San Rafael, CA

Director of Admissions & Financial Assistance
Presidio Hill School, San Francisco, CA

Associate Director of Admissions
The Nueva School, Hillsborough, CA

Lower School Teacher (2nd & 3rd grade)
Marin Horizon School, Mill Valley, CA

Education

Graduate
Masters of Arts - English (Creative Writing)
San Francisco State University, CA

Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
Vassar College, NY
K-8 teaching credential

Awards & Interests

Phi Beta Kappa

Vassar College Fiction Prize (senior thesis)

Participated in multiple Division 3 sports, local running teams, marathons, and triathlons