Employment / Professional Activity

  • The Chicago Academy for the Arts

    • Head of School (2016–present)

    • Assistant Head of School / Principal / Acting Head of School (2009–2016)

    • Music Department Chair (2002–2009)

    • Faculty (1998–present)

  • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

    • Faculty, Institute for New Heads (2021–present)

  • Caltera School

    • Cofounder (2001–2016)

Board Service

Education

  • M.A. Educational Leadership/School Leadership; Northeastern Illinois University

  • B.M., summa cum laude, Professional Music; Berklee College of Music; Boston, MA

  • Various professional education programs at Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University) and Harvard Graduate School of Education

Speaking

  • Life at the intersection of excellence, purpose, and passion

    • TEDx Talk: TEDx Wrigleyville, August 2019

  • Three Stories and Seven Lessons: Imagination, Community, and Joy.

    • Keynote Speaker, Arts Schools Network (ASN) Annual Conference (October 2024, Washington DC)

    • Featured Speaker, Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference, May 2024, Orange Beach, Alabama)

    • Opening Keynote Speaker, National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference (February 2023, Las Vegas)

    • Keynote Speaker, Georgia Independent Schools Association (GISA) Annual Conference (November 2023, Atlanta)

  • Jazz and Controversy: Leadership Lessons from Both Sides of the Curtain

    • Featured Speaker, Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference, May 2024, Orange Beach, Alabama)

    • Presenter at Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) Annual Conference (November 2023; Columbus, Ohio)

    • Presenter at National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference (February 2023, Las Vegas)

    • Presenter at Arts Schools Network (ASN) Annual Conference (October 2022, Las Vegas)

    • Presenter at National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Institute for New Heads (July 2022, 2023, and 2024, Atlanta)

    • Presenter at Arts Schools Network (ASN) Annual Conference, Columbia College, Chicago (October 2021)

  • Playing the Blues: A hands-on, improvisational musical experience for the novice and expert alike

    • Presenter at Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) Annual Heads Conference (January 2020)

  • Keynote Speaker, Fine & Performing Arts Conservatory Recognition Celebration, Detroit Country Day School (March 2019)

  • Imagination, Community, and Joy: the Real Value of an Arts Education

    • Presenter at Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) Annual Conference (October 2018)

  • Live and Learn: Creating a Framework For Talent to Develop and Succeed

    • Featured panelist at Leaders in Sport conference, Solider Field, Chicago (June, 2017)

  • Communicating Academic Value Through The Arts

    • Arts Schools Network Annual Conference, Tisch School of The Arts at New York University (2013)

    • Arts Schools Network Annual Conference, Columbia College, Chicago (2012)