M. Colleen Cruz

Educator. Literacy Expert. Speaker. Writer. Parent. Consultant.

What people are saying:

  • "Colleen Cruz helped my school so much! Her whole staff PD on MTSS reminded all of us what teachers need to have in place. Watching her model Tier II instruction in our classrooms showed us a doable path to follow. Because of her expert knowledge, she left us with spot-on suggestions to grow as a middle school. "

    - Sally Donnelly, Dorothy Hamm Middle School, Arlington, VA

  • "Colleen is like Olivia Pope, the Fixer, for schools. If schools have something they need help with, almost anything to do with teaching and learning, Colleen is your go to person for problem solving."

    Dr. Cherry-Paul, founding director of Red Clay Educators

  • "She could be a stand-up comedian! The most fun I have ever had in PD while learning so much!"

    - NYC Public School Teacher, commenting on school-based professional development

  • “Colleen has an authentic point-of-view and presents from the heart. She is an Earth-shaker!”

    - Anonymous midwestern educator, commenting on an all-day district seminar

  • "This was a two-fer. Content and practice - praxis at its most powerful."

    - Sarah Norsworthy, Maine DOE SEL Implementation Specialist, commenting on the Teach Black History All Year Institute

  • "Risk., Fail. Rise. Those are words that should guide all of us in our teaching (and our lives). In this brilliant book Colleen Cruz provides research, examples, tools and lessons to celebrate mistake-making and embracing those mistakes so that teachers and their students can do the real work of growth. Colleen shows us that the mistake is not the key, but it is the all important impetus that gives us insight into knowledge, abilities, purpose and what our next steps will be."

    An elementary principal, reviewing Risk. Fail. Rise.

Have We Met Before?

A not exhaustive sampling of places and organizations Colleen has worked with

Lit Con