In addition to writing the recently published RISK. FAIL. RISE. A TEACHER'S GUIDE TO LEARNING FROM MISTAKES, Colleen (@colleen_cruz) is the author of several other titles for teachers, including WRITERS READ BETTER: NARRATIVE, WRITERS READ BETTER: NONFICTION, THE UNSTOPPABLE WRITING TEACHER, INDEPENDENT WRITING and A QUICK GUIDE TO REACHING STRUGGLING WRITERS, as well as the author of the young adult novel BORDER CROSSING, a Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Finalist. She was a classroom teacher in general education and inclusive settings before working at Teachers College, Columbia University as the Director of Innovation. She currently provides professional development to schools, districts and communities who work with students in grades K-12 and want support in developing their joyful, inclusive, research-supported, mistakes-welcoming instructional practices. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.
