I graduated from Earlham College in 1997 with a degree in Human Development & Social Relations, a minor in Spanish, and a focus in Education. I moved to DC and worked in a child development center for almost ten years, then spent a little over a decade in the restaurant- and business-ownership world (The Argonaut in DC and The Harborside in Maine).

In 2017, I returned to Education, and have been working at Maury Elementary School (where and when my daughter was a 4th grader). I’m about to start my 7th year in Kindergarten! I also serve on Maury’s ALT (Academic Leadership Team).

I work for Polite Piggy’s teaching classes after school (Knitting Club and my latest: Life Skills – where kids learn how to use a landline, how to read a map, make change with [fake] money, etc) and I handle all of their social media. On top of that, I design websites, make logos, and dabble in other one-off projects, and currently, I’m working on this collaborative documentary project.

In my free time, I advocate for racial justice, adoptees, and families of those with substance use disorder. I have written and spoken widely on these topics and my work has appeared in Masala Mommas, Upworthy, and The Washington Post. I also co-authored a book about addiction and am a regular presenter at adoption conferences.

I love refurbishing furniture, going to the gym, readingreadingreading, writing, gardening, henna, and squeezing in as much time as possible with Ara before she goes to college (sob!).

Fun Fact: If any of you are old enough to remember the children’s book, Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney, it’s based on my great-grandmother. On the last page of the book, it says “with thanks to Hilda” which is also my middle name.