Aliza Kushner serves as the Director of Cooke Institute (CI), responsible for overseeing all aspects of professional development services, strategic initiatives, partner relations, program evaluations, and outcomes. Since transitioning to this role in 2011, she has expanded CI’s services to include early childhood, special education, inclusion, and literacy coaching specifically designed to meet the unique learning needs of students. Each year Aliza manages CI’s teacher and school leader coaching portfolio of over 40 partner schools in many of NYC’s most underserved school communities, and more than 30 professional development workshops reaching local educators as well as those across the United States and around the globe.

Aliza began her career over 25 years ago in Washington Heights as an elementary classroom teacher, and subsequently held various leadership positions including staff developer and literacy coach at Title 1 public and nonpublic schools across New York City, including working at Cooke as a member of CI’s coaching team. In addition, she mentored new teachers, tutored struggling readers, and partnered with families on ways to improve literacy learning at home.

Aliza earned her MS in Education from Hunter College, is permanently certified as an elementary educator, and is a member of various committees where she continues to advocate for systemic change to ensure all students have access to excellent teaching that meet each student’s unique needs.