OUR WORK IS NOT CHILDISH…
JUST BECAUSE WE WORK WITH CHILDREN
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, underpaid, overworked, or underappreciated in your museum education journey,
this is the place for you, my friend.
Here, we believe that museums should
…prioritize children’s experiences,
…set educators up to thrive, not just survive,
… and ground education programs in quality research and real-world realities.
But, it just looks like “play” to them
For years, I poured myself into designing creative programs that were physically and intellectually engaging … and they worked. I could see education unfolding right there.
But to others on staff? It just looked like play. My work with children was often brushed aside as less important, less serious, or somehow less valuable.
The worst part? This chronic tug-of-war between fun and real learning caused me to doubt everything I was doing:
~ Second-guessing our program designs
~ Hesitating to speak up in board and staff meetings
~ Toning down the messier, louder activities that kids actually loved
~ Uncertain about next steps
~ Struggling to advocate for my staff
~ Ineffective at arguing for the budget allocations we needed
~ Clueless about how to market our programs
Does this sound like you?
Then you are in luck, my friend!
Because after years spent figuring it all out, my focus has shifted. Now I partner with museum educators like you to rebuild your confidence, refine your programs and strengthen your leadership skills.
By grounding all of my work in high quality scholarship and working with the special circumstances of quirky museum environments, I’ll help you find the answers you are looking for.
Have we met yet?
Hi, I’m Rachel, a museum education researcher and advocate, who consults with individual educators, as well as with small and mid-sized museums, who want to develop or refine their children and family programs, but lack the staff, time, or expertise to make it happen.
Looking for my credentials?
I LOVE research and learning about what makes museum education effective and I deeply believe that museum education can change the world … which has led me to pursue a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy, in order to bolster my work of advocating for children’s programs in museums (particularly small, community museums) through more inclusive research.
I have worked professionally in the public history and museum fields since 2004 and my passion is for children's education in informal learning environments. In addition to children's education in museums, I am also interested in the identity-based pay and employment gaps in the museum field, as well as the ongoing work to decolonize museums.
My award-winning work has been trusted by museums in multiple states and I’m a frequent speaker at state, regional, and national museum conferences.
After two decades holding every educator position in a museum, from volunteer to Vice President…
I believe that museum educators deserve affordable, expert-level resources and research-driven strategies to make their work easier and more impactful.
What does this mean for you?
Together we can…
Clarify Your Goals
We’ll map out what matters most — to you, your team, your audience, and to your mission — so that every step is grounded in your purpose and your real-world reality.
Connect Reality to Research
I’ll show you how to turn the latest scholarship into practical, ready-to-use strategies that fit your museum’s rhythms — so that every step is also grounded in predictable patterns, not just opinions.
Create Resources that Work
No matter how big or small your budget is, you’ll walk away with tools, materials, or plans that are on-brand for you, easy to use, and ready-made for immediate impact.
Museum Education is SERIOUSLY FUN.
I mean, just check out these #actionshots of me at work over the years.
I did in fact dress up like Annie Oakley, kiss a frog, come to work in 1980s glam, and fish marbles out of ice water with my toes!
But More Importantly…
Museum Education is SERIOUS WORK.
I deeply believe that museum educators are changing the world. Museums are uniquely situated to impact social change, and museum educators work directly with children who visit these world-changing institutions. The future is literally in our hands.