About Dr. Jo

I'm the mom to two and stepmom to two more. All four are grown adults now. There's something really nice about the different type of relationship with your children as adults. 

I grew up in Texas and became a teenage mom the summer after high school graduation. I persisted and went to the University of Houston for my undergrad degree while raising my son. During college, I worked as a nanny and preschool teacher at a local church. After graduating, I had my daughter and started working as a teacher in the Houston suburbs. I taught Reading and English for six years before being promoted into school management. I missed the daily interactions with the students, so I left the public schools and tried to decide on my next path. While considering the options, I cared for three infants (two were twins!) in my home full time. This reminded me how much I loved babies and watching them grow!

Once the babies transitioned out of my care, I started my own educational business assisting families with the college admissions process. This included college research and selection, SAT/ACT test prep, essay editing, financial aid guidance, and support through the  college transition. This business thrived in Houston and I navigating switching to Zoom meetings during Covid, even creating my own curriculum for students who couldn't attend in-person classes. Seeking additional education, I also completed my doctorate in education from Northeastern University during this time. I  started teaching college admissions to other graduate students for the University of California- Berkeley, which I continue to this day.

When my youngest graduated from high school, we decided to leave Texas for the East Coast. After fifteen years, I closed the college admissions business and we packed up our lives! We are loving exploring Philadelphia, especially the fantastic food scene. Once again, I started caring for infants and children, serving as a nanny and parenting consultant to private families. I partnered with Philadelphia Nanny Network and MBR Nanny Network in the area. Additionally, I volunteered with the NICU at the local Jefferson hospital, cuddling tiny babies!