A fourth-generation educator and native Detroiter, Erica began her teaching career in 1995 at the Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW) in Chicago, teaching grades four through eight. During that time Erica conducted various action-research projects around student self-assessment and collaborative conferences which she presented for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Erica began her work with Accelerate Institute in 2006, first as an Instructional Coach with the Inner-City Teaching Corps—Accelerate’s teacher training program and then supporting leadership development through programs like the Principal Fellowship and Leadership Academy.

During her time with Accelerate, Erica has trained and mentored nearly 100 rising leaders. She has extensive training and experience implementing various development models including New Teacher Center’s Teacher Induction, CT3’s Real-Time Teacher Coaching, and the Danielson Framework. Erica also leverages her expertise in a range of instructional practices including Responsive Classroom, Project-Based Learning, Kagan Structures, and Multi-Sensory Literacy to support leaders in developing their instructional vision. Erica earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oakland University and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University. Erica serves on the board of Monarch Thrift Shop in Chicago, a non-profit that promotes sustainability while providing job-training and support to youth facing barriers to employment. Erica fills her free time traveling with her family, knitting, thrifting, and studying flamenco.