Gretchen brings her passion for literacy, language, and the intersectionality of those and other content areas to the ALLMemphis team, confident that literacy provides justice and equity to students of all backgrounds. She earned a bachelor's degree in linguistics from Boston University and a master’s degree in urban education from Memphis Teacher Residency (MTR) and Union University, with licensure in teaching English as a Second Language. As a lifelong learner, she has since added coursework and licensure as an elementary educator, certified reading specialist, and special education interventionist. During her nine years as a teacher in the elementary classroom, she taught in Tennessee’s only Spanish Dual Language Immersion program, served as a grade level lead and content lead for her schools, and was a mentor teacher for the district mentorship program and MTR’s year-long residency model. She's also worked as an instructional coach, literacy curriculum writer, and postgraduate professor. Outside of the office, Gretchen bartends at Wiseacre Brewing Company, spends time with her family and friends, and plays with colorful, sustainable sartorial and home decor choices.