Lizelena brings joy, curiosity, and 25 years of teaching experience to her role as Director of Adult Literacy Professional Development at the Literacy Assistance Center. Based in New York City, she primarily trains and coaches adult educators across the five boroughs, while also supporting national initiatives when called upon.
She co-leads the Foundations of Adult Education, Strengths-Based Adult Education, and Culturally Responsive Teaching courses, and has designed curricula for both local and national programs. Her favorite areas of focus include the science of learning, literacy across disciplines, visual and media literacy, tech + AI in the classroom, and project-based STEM/STEAM learning. She recently partnered with the Brooklyn Museum to explore how art can support literacy and learner engagement.
A frequent conference presenter and proud member of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and the International Literacy Association (ILA), Lizelena holds a Master’s in Education from Framingham State University and a certificate from Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.
Lizelena is excited to contribute her expertise to the Orchestrating Dreams board, driven by her commitment to expanding access to quality music education for all learners.