About

The first time I wore high heels was to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Title IX and its impact on women in sports. I was testifying for Congress about the beggarly girls’ softball conditions that led me to organize my friends to write a fiery letter and petition which resulted in significant improvements the following season. Ever since then I’ve been undaunted by big challenges and successfully delivered results for bold organizations around the world.

I founded Merlo Education Consulting to support organizational leaders by designing or writing about high impact educational programming for a monthly fee. Merlo Education Consulting leverages my background in curriculum, instruction, training, management systems, new program design and academic innovation.

Previously, I worked for NewGlobe Education as their Vice President, School Design. NewGlobe operates like a large charter school network and supports visionary governments in ensuring their public school systems are inclusive, equitable and transformative. I was responsible for ensuring the 5,000+ schools we served had well designed instructional materials, school management tools, staffing and performance management systems to deliver outsized learning gains. I shaped much of the company’s academic core, from distilling foundational teaching skills to developing high-leverage management tools for accountability.

Earlier in my career, I founded EduCorps, a teacher coaching project in the Democratic Republic of Congo by studying instructional best practices in context and establishing instructional coaching systems at schools in the city of Goma and nearby Mugunga Refugee Camp. I was also a classroom teacher and served in various school based leadership roles at Coney Island Prep, The American School of Kinshasa and St. John’s International School.

I am a product of Alexandria City Public Schools and went on to earn a B.A. in History and Master’s in Teaching from the University of Virginia. After many years of globetrotting, I’m proud to call Charlotte, North Carolina home. As the mother of two, I rarely wear high heels anymore but still bring the same fire to ensuring adults are doing what’s right for the kids in our schools and communities.