Capstone Coaches

Capstone coaches are members of the broader MHC community that help our students structure and implement their capstone projects. They act like “accountability buddies” by meeting periodically with students to answer questions, offer advice, and share feedback about their progress. Coaches either come directly from the communities in which our students work or have specific professional and scholarly experience related to the capstone projects they advise. Coaches are identified, recruited, and assigned based on their fit with each student and their project, so students can be confident that their coach is going to be well equipped to work with them and help ensure their project succeeds!

Meet our distinguished team of Teacher Leader Coaches

Gwen Bass, director of the Teacher Leadership Programs of Professional and Graduate Education at ɬ

Gwen Bass

Gwen Bass holds a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an M.Ed. in school counseling and an M.A. in sport management.

Steve Davis, 2022 Capstone Coach

Steve Davis

Steve Davis is the Founder and CEO of The Institute for Human Relations, Inc. During his forty years in Secondary and Higher Education, he has impacted thousands of lives as an Educational Administrator, Diversity Practitioner, and Athletic Coach. Mr. Davis also played in the Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl Football Classics for Penn State University.

Melanie Dexter-Morlath

Melanie Dexter-Morlath

Melanie Dexter-Morlath is a veteran independent school teacher. She has taught at single-sex schools (girls and boys), co-educational schools, boarding schools, day schools, K-8 schools, and high schools. Though she has mostly taught a variety of STEM subjects, Mel has also developed interdisciplinary and co-curricular programs to enhance student experience and provide learning beyond a traditional classroom environment. Her true passion as a teacher has been living on a boarding school campus with her family to engage students in developing their whole-selves by getting to know them on a personal, deep level and engaging with their learning in diverse ways in and out of the classroom.

Jazmin Hernandez

Jazmin Hernandez

Jazmin Hernandez is currently an Associate Principal who supports the EL program at her district. Prior to that, she taught English and ELD at a neighboring district. Her passion is empowering students and families to use their voice to further impact change.

Mary Keane, 2022 Capstone Coach

Mary Keane

Mary Keane is the Supervisor of English (5-12) for Westfield Public Schools in Massachusetts. She also serves on the Longmeadow School Committee.

Daniele Massey

Daniele A. Massey

Daniele Massey has over 14 years of experience as a classroom teacher, virtual teacher, mentor, instructional coach, teacher leader and educational consultant at the district, state, and national level. Massey is the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) 2013 Teacher of the Year and works to empower teachers, leaders, and community members to advocate for an equitable learning environment for all students.

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Professional and Graduate Education (PaGE)

ɬ has been on the forefront of providing a rigorous education to passionate changemakers who have gone on to break new ground in education, the sciences, the arts, public service and social justice movements for over 180 years.

Amy Asadoorian

Amy Asadoorian

  • Assistant Director of Communications, Outreach, and Admissions