Michelle Hughes, M.Ed, is a teacher-leader and writer with more than thirty years of teaching and leading in public and independent schools with diverse groups of learners.
Michelle received her M.Ed from Bank Street College of Education and certifications and honors from a variety of educational institutions.
Michelle’s professional development practice is founded on the understanding that each school is unique, each school leader faces unique opportunities and challenges, and each teacher brings unique strengths, values, and growing edges to their practice. Therefore, professional development should not be a one size fits all experience, but a tailored, place-based, and interactive one.
A practitioner of Habits of Mind, certified by the Institute for the Habits of Mind, Michelle works with schools and teachers to integrate Habits of Mind into classroom practices. She was commissioned by the Institute to write The Habits of Mind Playbook to facilitate the process of embedding Habits of Mind for teachers.
Michelle is a writer on educational topics as well, and has written two books, described below, and maintains a blog, Inside Voices, which can be accessed through this website.
“With Michelle Hughes, every day was a professional development day. She was always available for non judgemental discussion. Michelle was always a font of ideas; she brought analysis and creativity to every problem-solving conversation – and, crucially, a generous sense of humor as well.” – Maura McNulty, Middle School English
Areas of Practice: Providing Presentations, Professional Development and Workshops
Resilient Work Communities
Habits of Mind
Curriculum Continuity and Instructional Design
Books
WhenTeachers Stay: Cultivating Resilient Teaching Communities…
Driven to understand the exodus from teaching in the last decade, but peaking in 2022, Michelle’s curiosity drove her to undertake unexpected journey to discover Why Teachers Stay? Identifying and visiting schools with high retention, talking with many teachers and school leaders, and digging into the research, the book, When Teachers Stay: Cultivating Resilient Teaching Communities, emerged.
When Teachers Stay: Cultivating Resilient Teaching Communities is available at:
Vital Source: (e-book) When Teachers Stay
Or from Amazon by clicking here!
Collaborative Partners
Jackie Katzen, MS.ed
Jackie Katzen holds an MS in Special Education from SUNY New Paltz and has spent over three decades working with children, adolescents, and young adults in educational and therapeutic settings.
Starting her career at a crisis shelter for adolescents, Jackie ultimately served as a case manager, gaining deep insights from both her dedicated colleagues and the resilient teens she supported. After transitioning to progressive education, Jackie began teaching Pre-K and kindergarten but found her true calling in fourth grade, where she spent over 2 decades developing a comprehensive and personal curriculum. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes fostering students’ personal connections to the material, allowing them to meaningfully weave their learning into their lives.
Following her years in the classroom, Jackie moved into administration as Director of Student Support Services, where she mentored teachers and guided students and parents. However, her passion for direct student engagement led her back to teaching, and she now teaches Psychology at SUNY Ulster Community College, bringing the same dedication to her work with emerging adults.
Over her 30 year career, Jackie has been fortunate to collaborate with many accomplished educators, including Michelle Hughes, and looks forward to sharing experiences and insights and supporting the aspirations of participants.
Kanoe Bunney, PhD
Kanoe and Michelle have a writing partnership in which they research and interview teachers and school leaders on emergent and needed topics in education with a solution oriented perspective. Their article, “The Expectations and Aspirations of the GenZ Education Student”, is coming out in the October, 2025 edition of Phi Delta Kappan Magazine.
Kanoe coordinates the Education program at Linn-Benton, a midsize community college in Oregon. Kanoe began her career as a classroom teacher, while pursuing her PhD. Kanoe now teaches classes aimed at pre-service teachers who plan to transfer to a teacher preparation program at a university. Through Grow-your-own efforts, Kanoe converses regularly with school district leaders, teachers, state stakeholders, regional educator networks and brainstorms ways to strengthen certification pathways for individuals entering the teaching
profession. Kanoe is a parent of two boys aged thirteen and fifteen.
Kanoe holds a MS.Ed from Bank Street College, in New York City and a PhD from the University of Oregon.
