Elise began her career as an elementary classroom teacher and is currently a math coach for the Consolidated School District of New Britain in Connecticut. As a coach, Elise collaborates with teachers, supporting them in delivering rigorous problem-based instruction. She is a CT State Network Educator, having contributed to Smarter Balanced Tools for Teachers and SBAC task analyses. Elise is the co-founder of the Connecticut Illustrative Mathematics Consortium and currently serves on the board for the Connecticut Council of Leaders of Mathematics. Elise’s “aha” moment came as a third-grade teacher, when she discovered the meaning of a square root by building square numbers with her students. She is committed to helping all learners experience that “aha” moment by tapping into their creativity and engaging in rich and relevant math tasks. In her spare time, Elise makes jewelry, gardens, and dominates the microphone in karaoke.