Clarissa (she/her) joins Teach Plus as the Illinois Program Director and Education Leadership Coach, where she will help launch and lead the Illinois Affinity Group Network Fellowship.
Prior to joining Teach Plus, Clarissa spent the past 12 years working for the New Teacher Center in various roles as a coach, consultant, and program director supporting partner districts, state agencies, state departments of education, and teacher teams in building and implementing high-quality instructional coaching systems of support for new and experienced teachers to accelerate educator effectiveness while centering students as the heart of the work.
Clarissa graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education after which she taught Middle School Special Education in the Lake County area of Illinois and then in Chicago Public Schools in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. In the Fall of 2009, Clarissa worked as an Induction Coach supporting 1st and 2nd-year special education teachers across Chicago Public Schools. In December of 2010, Clarissa had the opportunity to speak in Washington DC, at a Senate hearing on the importance of funding induction programs for new educators to support accelerated teacher effectiveness, teacher retention, and lasting impact on the lives of both students and teachers.
Clarissa currently resides in Chicago and enjoys spending time outdoors on walks throughout Chicago with her partner.
