Michelle Barreras
San Francisco
Summary
- Educational leader with 20+ years of experience across independent schools, higher education, and mission-driven organizations. Proven success in admissions and enrollment management, family engagement, and community-centered growth. Deeply grounded in Reggio Emilia–inspired practice, inquiry-based learning, and equity-driven access. Known for building trust with families, leading cross-functional teams, and aligning enrollment strategy with institutional mission, sustainability, and belonging.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Second Grade Co-Teacher
Children's Day School
08.2025 - Current
- Collaborate with co-teacher to design and implement integrated curriculum fostering academic growth and student agency.
- Establish responsive classroom culture promoting belonging, self-regulation, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Serve as primary liaison for families, building trust through consistent communication and partnership.
- Translat learning experiences into clear narratives for families and visitors.
- Supported student placement and continuity in partnership with learning specialists and school leadership.
- Contributed to admissions events and family communications to enhance engagement.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of classroom practices, child development, and family experiences in progressive independent school setting.
Assistant Director of K-12 Partnerships
Great Books Foundation
02.2023 - Current
- Expanded school and district partnerships across 17 states, enhancing growth and retention.
- Utilized CRM systems to analyze data trends, guiding outreach strategy and decision-making.
- Collaborated with marketing and leadership to synchronize messaging and partner experience.
- Represented organization at conferences, establishing credibility and fostering relationships.
Adjunct Lecturer
University Of Colorado Denver
01.2021 - Current
- Deliver graduate-level coursework rooted in Reggio Emilia philosophy and pedagogical documentation.
- Mentor and evaluat educators from diverse cultural and international backgrounds.
- Provide narrative feedback to promote professional growth and reflective practice.
- Engage global graduate students with multimedia resources and assignments to enhance theoretical analysis.
Head of School
The Discovery School - Bay Area Discovery Museum
07.2017 - 02.2023
- Directed admissions and enrollment processes, encompassing family inquiries, tours, interviews, and application reviews.
- Collaborated with marketing to synchronize admissions messaging with school mission and values.
- Led enrollment strategy to enhance sustainability, retention, and class composition balance.
- Cultivated strong relationships with families to foster trust and achieve high retention rates.
- Designed onboarding experiences for new families to promote belonging and commitment.
- Oversaw daily operations while ensuring compliance with California Childcare Licensing regulations.
- Managed $750K budget, aligning financial decisions with strategic priorities.
- Coached educators on pedagogy, classroom culture, and documentation practices.
Kindergarten Teacher
The Nueva School
08.2014 - 06.2017
- Served as lead educator
- Co-designed and implemented inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curricula to enhance student engagement.
- Mentored educators to promote professional development and instructional quality.
- Executed admissions activities and assessed individual participants for program fit.
- Led family conferences and authored narrative reports to communicate student progress.
- Served as co-leader for parent information sessions, facilitating open dialogue.
- Created pedagogical documentation and exhibitions to showcase learning outcomes.
Co-Founder
Cultivating The Early Years
01.2013 - 12.2015
- Founded a professional learning and consulting organization for educators
- Designed and facilitated workshops, institutes, and professional development
- Advanced Reggio Emilia–inspired and social constructivist practice.
Lecturer
Columbia College Chicago
09.2009 - 06.2014
- Coordinated placement of and provided supervision for student teachers in local elementary schools.
- Mentored emerging educators, advising on course selection for career advancement.
- Presented at conferences, engaging in professional development opportunities.
- Developed innovative teaching strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Created a positive, safe learning environment for diverse undergraduate students.
- Assessed student progress, providing constructive feedback to facilitate improvement.
Kindergarten Teacher
Hubbard Woods Elementary School
08.1999 - 06.2007
- Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten
- Mixed age classroom
Education
Master of Education M.Ed. Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy -
National-Louis University
Chicago, ILBachelor of Science B.S., Elementary Education: Leadership & Advocacy Scholarship; Dean's List -
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IASkills
- Strategic enrollment planning
- Yield and retention strategies
- Relationship-driven recruitment
- Mission-aligned admissions and onboarding
- Tuition and access decision-making
- Data-informed strategy and reporting
- CRM and enrollment systems expertise
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Public speaking and school representation
Selected Presentations & Professional Development
- World Forum Foundation (Macao; Auckland)
- NAEYC National Conference
- Boulder Journey School Summer Conference
- Reggio Educators Symposium (Carlina Rinaldi; Mary Catherine Bateson)
- Responsive Classroom (2025)
- Shared Inquiry Essentials Leader (2023)
Timeline
Second Grade Co-Teacher
Children's Day School
08.2025 - Current
Assistant Director of K-12 Partnerships
Great Books Foundation
02.2023 - Current
Adjunct Lecturer
University Of Colorado Denver
01.2021 - Current
Head of School
The Discovery School - Bay Area Discovery Museum
07.2017 - 02.2023
Kindergarten Teacher
The Nueva School
08.2014 - 06.2017
Co-Founder
Cultivating The Early Years
01.2013 - 12.2015
Lecturer
Columbia College Chicago
09.2009 - 06.2014
Kindergarten Teacher
Hubbard Woods Elementary School
08.1999 - 06.2007
Master of Education M.Ed. Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy -
National-Louis University
Bachelor of Science B.S., Elementary Education: Leadership & Advocacy Scholarship; Dean's List -
University of Iowa