Writer, editor, storyteller, communicator
I'm an award-winning communicator and storyteller with high-level experience in content, journalism and marketing. (Resume available above.) I work as the Associate Director of Communications at GEMS World Academy Chicago, a private independent day school in downtown Chicago, where I lead efforts to establish and communicate the school's narrative/storyline. Previously, I was a staff writer at the Daily Herald, a regional daily newspaper based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where I won multiple awards for investigative reporting, feature writing and arts reporting. In 2014, I earned my Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago.
Portfolio
Marketing work: Blog, ad copy, videos
WHEN LEARNING INSPIRES STUDENTS TO TAKE ACTION
Taking action is one of the essential elements of the Primary Years Program, the first phase of the International Baccalaureate curriculum framework. Schools using this...
SIX REASONS A DESIGN LAB IS ESSENTIAL FOR LEARNING
Walk into the Design & Innovation Lab at GEMS World Academy Chicago, and you'll likely find yourself gripped by the desire to make something. It probably has a lot to do with...
The role of education is changing. Schools have to prepare students for a world that is more diverse, more connected and more rapidly evolving than ever before. Helping young...
THE SKILLS TODAY'S STUDENTS NEED TO BE LEADERS TOMORROW
Every year, global finance company Bloomberg conducts an exhaustive survey of recruiters to find out what skills are most in demand by employers, and what skills are the hardest...
Weekly Parents Newsletter; 5/4/17
Those of you who attended the "GWA Connect" summit held in early March will remember the robust conversation with my fellow heads of school and other GEMS colleagues about...
FOCUS ON A TRANSDISCIPLINARY UNIT: ACCESSIBILITY
A key component of the academic program at GEMS World Academy Chicago is that we tie disciplines together in our daily inquiries. This "transdisciplinary" approach makes...
Journalism
Heart singer Ann Wilson brings career-spanning show to Arcada Theatre
"Barracuda," the blistering anti-sexism hit from the band Heart, sounds like it could have emerged from the anger of today's #MeToo movement. It was written more than 40 years...
Iconic '80s band Tears for Fears joins Hall & Oates for Allstate show
It's been more than 30 years since new wave/pop band Tears for Fears conquered the world with the monstrously successful record "Songs From the Big Chair." Their creative energy...
Suburban libraries go digital, add services
Libraries across the suburbs have evolved in recent years to stay relevant in an increasingly digital age. Many have incorporated sophisticated new technology that allows users...
Mentally ill say more suburban housing options needed
Having a home of their own is one more struggle for those living with mental illness. "People with mental illness in this area are forced to live with their parents or in...
Pension argument pits 'haves' and 'have nots'
Coming tomorrow: Increase taxes or cut benefits? What to do next. Madge and Jim Pierce spent years scrimping and pumping nearly 40 percent of their income into a 401(k), only to...