Marcia Avila - California Educational Consultant
I was born and raised in the Central Valley of California-Visalia and Clovis. I attended Long Beach State and Fresno State University. I have taught 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 8th grade English before joining the HMH team in 2000. I have over 15 years experience working with English Language Learners, Struggling Readers and differentiating instruction for all students. I have a passion for Education, my family and looking for the perfect cheeseburger! I am getting married soon and my new last name will be Lowell. HMH truly has student's and teacher's best interest at heart and that is why I love working here!
Mary-Jo Casey - California Educational Consultant
Before coming to work for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers as an educational consultant, Mary Jo Casey taught for twelve years. Her passion and training was in the area of Reading Language Arts. She began as an elementary school teacher in Northern California and taught 3rd grade for five years. After taking a year off of teaching to travel and teach in South America, she taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts and Reading Intervention. From there she went on to coach teachers and principals throughout the Central Valley on using data and Professional Learning Communities to reform instruction and increase student achievement. Mary Jo’s commitment to educational excellence continues at HMH. She brings her knowledge, experience and passion to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publisher. Please feel free to contact her with via phone or e-mail with any HMH needs.
Carole Cuttita - California Educational Consultant
Dorie Flynn - California Educational Consultant
I grew up in the Bay Area and moved to San Diego to attend University of San Diego where I played soccer for four years while getting my teaching credential. From college I went to work for Club Med in four different countries. I taught kindergarten for three years before joining the HMH team in 2006, and married the very same year! I love to travel, play sports and be outside. I recently purchased a house in San Marcos with my husband and golden retriever. I love the publishing industry and see a bright future ahead!
Lauren Loney - California Educational Consultant
Lauren has been a consultant with HMH since 2000. Prior to that she was a teacher in San Francisco Unified School District at the school she went to as a child. As a consultant, Lauren says, one of her favorite aspects of the job is all the wonderful people she gets to meet each day. Lauren received her BA in Child Development, then attended University of San Francisco where she attained her teaching credential and Masters degree in Education and continued post graduate studies in Curriculum and Instruction. Lauren and her husband continue to reside in San Francisco where she spends most of her free time outside; running, walking, or hiking.
Tere Rivera - California Educational Consultant
I received my MA from California State University of Los Angeles in Cultural Diversity and Proficiency and my BA from UCLA in psychology. I have been blessed with multiple careers; my own business in Real Estate, working for non profit as Volunteer Director, as well as grant writing for children programs in Math and Science for the California Science Center. There is were I was introduced to the publishing world and joined Harcourt Brace School Publishers. My passion is traveling as much as possible and integrating my other loves of photography and volunteering.
Stacy Storm - California Educational Consultant
I have had the joy of being a member of the HMH team for over 20 years where I served on both the sales and consulting side as well as a manager for a decade. I am a native of California but spent many years in the gorgeous southwest. I graduated many a moon ago from the University of New Mexico and attended Arizona State for graduate school. I taught in both Phoenix and Los Angeles before joining Harcourt in 1988. At home, I have a 15 year old daughter and 23 and 24 year old step daughters. My husband says it is a full gaggle of girls at our home. We are so proud of each of them and love our life together. I look forward to meeting you and working with you and your team!
Suzy Zaifert - California Educational Consultant
I’m a native of Southern California and graduated from California State University Northridge with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. I began my educational career as a teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District, where I taught and worked as a literacy coach. During that time I received my Masters in Education from Pepperdine University, and a Masters in Leadership and Policy Studies from Cal State Northridge. In pursuing my educational goals, I then moved to New York and spent some time teaching 6th grade in Spanish Harlem, before moving back to Los Angeles to focus on educational publishing.
I joined the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt team as a K-12 educational consultant in 2008. I enjoy being able to connect with curriculum directors, administrators, and teachers alike to bring our products into classrooms everywhere. Please feel free to contact me with your educational needs!
