Coaching

Joanna started as an instructional coach in 2013, working with teachers and school leaders primarily in the area of improving teaching and learning in the K-12 classroom. Joanna has since shifted to  professional coaching, and has a diploma in coaching from New York University’s School for Professional Studies. She is trained in Co-Active coaching, and as an Immunity to Change facilitator. 

Professional Background

For her day job, Joanna is currently the Director of State and District Engagements at the English Learners Success Forum. Before joining ELSF, Joanna partnered with educators to support language and literacy development for multilingual learners. She developed lab sites for Bridges to Academic Success to implement a curriculum for newcomers with emerging home language literacy; facilitated a professional working group for the Internationals Network for Public Schools; and co-facilitated a Train-the-Trainer program with Strategic Inquiry for New York City high schools. She served as the Lead Instructional Specialist for New Visions Charter High Schools, leading the network’s literacy initiatives. She has worked in the field of education as a classroom teacher, a college counselor, and instructional coach. She has served as an instructor in teacher education programs at Hunter College and Brooklyn College at the City University of New York, and Long Island University. She is a co-author of School-wide Systems for Multilingual Learner Success: A Roadmap for Leaders. 

Education

Joanna has a BA in English Literature from Barnard College, a Master's degree in TESOL from Hunter College, and a Ph.D.  in urban education policy from the CUNY Graduate Center. She received her training in school leadership and education administration at The Leadership Academy. 

Joanna is a proud Cantonese-speaking native New Yorker who was born and raised in Chinatown, and still lives in the city with her family.