More Than Teaching.
More Than Learning.
For more than 30 years, I've worked alongside students and educators—as a classroom teacher, instructional leader, Director of a Teacher Center, adjunct faculty member, and provider of professional learning across New York State.
But the work that matters most to me has never been about programs, initiatives, or instructional strategies alone.
It's about helping people better understand themselves.
Because when we understand ourselves, everything changes—how we learn, how we teach, how we connect, and how we grow.
My Journey
The Realization That Changed Everything
Like many educators, I spent years trying to make sense of the ever-changing demands of education.
New strategies. New initiatives. New expectations.
At the same time, I found myself on a personal journey of learning about self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and what it truly means to understand yourself.
For a long time, those felt like two separate paths.
One was about education.
The other was about personal growth.
Until I realized they were actually the same path.
The way we teach, the way we respond, the way we build classroom communities—all of it is connected to how well we understand ourselves.
And the same is true for our students.
That realization became the foundation for everything that would eventually become Learn with Lattimore and the RISE & GROW framework.
What I Believe
Learning Begins With Connection—and Grows Through Self-Awareness
Relationships matter.
Connection matters.
Students learn best when they feel safe, supported, respected, and valued.
But connection is only the beginning.
I believe students also need opportunities to understand themselves:
How they learn
How they respond to challenges
How they regulate emotions
What helps them succeed
How they continue growing
Classrooms should be places where students learn more than content.
They should be places where students learn how to reflect, adapt, take ownership, and grow into confident learners and capable human beings.
Because that's where lifelong learning begins.
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The Philosophy Behind RISE & GROW
Helping Students Learn—and Learn Themselves
RISE & GROW was created to support both the educator and the learner.
It provides a practical framework for teachers while giving students a language they can use to understand themselves, regulate their emotions, and take ownership of their growth.
At its core, RISE & GROW is built on a simple belief:
Classrooms should develop both the learner and the person.
Through this work, students begin to see themselves as capable, confident learners—understanding not only what they are learning, but how they learn and who they are becoming.
And for educators, RISE & GROW isn't about adding one more thing to an already full plate.
It's about aligning the things that matter most.
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The RISE & GROW Framework
Building the Conditions for Growth
RISE
R — Routines
Creating consistent structures that help students feel safe and supported.
I — Inclusion
Building environments where every student feels valued and connected.
S — Student Voice
Empowering students to contribute, participate, and be heard.
E — Engagement
Cultivating meaningful learning experiences that spark curiosity and investment.
GROW
G — Goals & Metacognition
Helping students set goals, reflect on their learning, and understand their thinking.
R — Regulation & Resilience
Developing emotional awareness and the skills needed to navigate challenges.
O — Ownership & Agency
Encouraging students to take responsibility for their learning and growth.
W — Wellness & Whole-Child Support
Supporting the social, emotional, and personal well-being that allows learning to flourish.
Bringing the Framework to Life
In student-friendly language, RISE & GROW becomes something students can actively practice every day:
R — We build routines that help us feel safe.
I — Everyone belongs here.
S — My voice matters.
E — I am engaged in my learning.
G — I set goals and reflect on my learning.
R — I learn how to manage my emotions and responses.
O — I take ownership of my learning.
W — I take care of myself so I can learn and grow.
When students can name these habits, they begin to internalize them.
And that's when lasting growth happens.
The Moments That Stay With You
This work is deeply personal to me.
I've seen what happens when students become disconnected—from learning and from themselves.
And I've seen what happens when they begin to understand who they are.
There's a shift.
A confidence.
A calm.
A sense of ownership.
Students begin to see themselves differently.
Those moments remind me why this work matters and why I continue to share it with educators every chance I get.
The Future I Hope to Help Create
My goal is simple.
To help create classrooms where students leave with more than content knowledge.
Where they leave understanding themselves.
Grounded.
Able to regulate.
Confident in how they learn.
Prepared to continue growing—not just in school, but throughout life.
I believe education has the power to shape not only what students know, but who they become.
And I believe educators have the opportunity to create classrooms where students don't just learn.
They learn who they are.
