About me
CV
Education, Certifications, Awards
MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults. Simmons University. GPA 4.0
Coursework Baypath Creative Nonfiction, Masters Level
Post-Baccalaureate and Licensure in Elementary Education. Macalester College. GPA 4.0
BA Grinnell College. Major: Anthropology. GPA 3.89
Clayful Health Certified Mental Wellness Coach for Adolescent and Teens. Level 3.
Certified Patient Advocate in Rare Disease Space. 2020.
Expressive Arts Training. Expressive Arts Florida. 2020-2022.
The Responsive Classroom SEL training. 2000.
Fulbright Group Scholarship Namibia, Africa, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa Book Award, Asrelsky Award for Writing, Luebben Award for Best Paper in Anthropology Department
Writing Teachers of many years: Anne Hoffland, Burleigh Muten
Writing and Published Work
Contributing Writer and Editor for Living in the Light of Rare Diseases. Traveled nationwide interviewing and writing narratives about people with rare diseases for online and print publications. Narrative medicine, medical journalism and long form biographies/ storytelling. frompatienttoperson.com
Author of Sign Language Shabbat. Authored a novel series of holiday books featuring photographs of deaf children signing holiday words. Honored as Selected Book of the Year at PJ Library conference. 2018. Two more books under contract: Sign Language Havadallah, Hanukkah.
Curriculum Writer. Published curriculum for nationwide traveling photography exhibit about LGBTQ+ families. Published curriculum for Building Bridges featuring immigrant families. 2022.
Long and short form content for several businesses and organizations.
Curriculum Writer. Fulbright Scholarship. Published curriculum about indigenous folktales for grades K- 6 during fieldwork in Namibia, 1995.
Contributor. St. Paul Public School Teacher Standards.
Mentor/Teacher for Student-Led Projects within context of various professional positions
Founded “Book and Cake” student-led writing groups and literary magazine for girls and LGBTQ kids that are student-led. Ages 12-16. Mentored students to lead all aspects of the program from writing stories, creating art, fundraising, printing, marketing, publishing, and distribution. 2016- Present.
Founded "Wild Arts Cafe," an expressive arts program for student wellness. Student-led projects in expressive arts that involved minimal teacher direction and students are encouraged to develop their own ideas and execute them.
Lead School Teacher: K-8 at various inner city schools and private schools. Withtin these roles, I led dozens of student-led projects including writing and performing original plays, student-led academic competition teams such as Odyssey of the Mind, academic research, arts, media. One student-written and directed play explored life post 9/11 and was recognized by the Center for Media Education.
Art Teacher. K-6; Long term substitute teacher at Lander Grinspoon Academy. Northampton, MA. 2016. Fostered creative art projects.
Lead Teacher. K-2. Circles for Jewish Living. 2014-2016
International Travel with teens to Morelia, Mexico to volunteer at Hogar Irekani orphanage to lead their own fundraising, art projects, and cook alongside a student-run taqueria.
Alisa Greenbacher is an author, educator, writing instructor and mother to two daughters, based in beautiful western Massachusetts. Her work spans authoring children's and middle grade literature, writing for patient advocacy publications, leading young people's writing groups, mental health coaching, teaching grades K-12, and working in expressive arts. Alisa is passionate about all forms of expression that allow us to grow, practice self-love, laugh, and connect. Her work is inspired by creating supportive and uplifting environments that allow us to honor our most authentic selves.
Alisa's most recent work is her middle grade verse novel, Sprig, a story which encapsulates the ethos of her work - love, chosen family, and identity. Alisa is currently seeking a literary agent for Sprig.
Contact with any proposals, collaborations, or questions here:
Professional Development
Certification in Seeing Stars and Lips: Lindamood-Bell (for struggling readers and writers)
Certification as a Multicultural Conflict Resolution Mediator UMass.
St. Paul Public Schools Supplemental Training in English as a Second Language Education Reading and Writing and Success for All
Greenfield Center School Professional Development: White Skin Privilege
Certification as a Patient Advocate in the Rare Disease Space through PPALS
Contact me:
alisagreenbacherauthor@gmail.com