About Alissa
Reading with her baby sister, Shelly (1991)
When Alissa was four years old, she dreamed of becoming a singing doctor. This magical job involved helping nervous children feel at ease as they were seen by their pediatrician. Over the years, she came to realize that she would need to possess actual vocal talent and to overcome her fear of blood if this dream were to come to fruition. Maintaining her desire to work alongside children, she became a teacher instead.
Upon graduation from New York University, Alissa proudly wore the title of NYC public school teacher. Alissa’s classroom experience ranged from grades 3 to 6 and across general and special education settings. She also volunteered internationally, teaching English in rural Panama, Tanzania and Nicaragua. After years in the classroom and a Masters degree from Hunter College, she stepped into the role of lead staff developer at Teachers College, exploring and learning alongside both children and adults.
Within a short time, Alissa became known as a trustworthy partner, curious and joyful learner, and pragmatic problem solver by both her colleagues and the schools she supported. She led think tanks around scaffolding and supporting students with IEPs. She facilitated conferences to help instructional coaches support the writing instruction in their communities. She traveled by subway to Queens and by plane to Bogotá, tailoring professional development to each unique group. She also co-authored Mystery: Foundational Skills in Disguise, a unit of study for third grade readers. Additionally, she completed certifications in both School Building and District Leadership through Stony Brook University.
Teaching in Panama (2007)
