I started my career as a bilingual elementary educator, where my students taught me that learning works best when it honors who they are and where they come from.
That belief carried me into roles as a teacher coach and nonprofit partner manager, and I was the one always tinkering with ways technology could bring our shared vision to life.
My wife and I eventually launched our first company, supporting schools and organizations with the design, implementation, and change management of powerful interventions for bilingual, newcomer, and housing-insecure students
When GenAI took off in early 2023, I saw a way to help teachers plan lessons grounded in students’ lived experiences and the assets of their communities.
I co-founded Planningperiod.io, learned to product manage through many user-informed iterations, and even coded simple features and processes when the work called for it.
I fell in love with software development because building and deploying systems that solve real pain points helps people create their own paradigm shifts. Today, I am a student at Fullstack Academy, and I want to spend the rest of my life building human-centered tech.
My Partners
People ❤️ Working With Me
"Merlin has been my sherpa in these AI times, helping me and my team navigate a fast-changing landscape with clarity and confidence." — Jennifer Early, Chief Operating Officer, Teach For America NY
"Merlin’s voice and perspective are essential in shaping the conversation on digital equity. I’m excited for all that’s ahead in our continued work together.” — Osarumwense Pat-Osagie, Digital Equity Program Director, NYS Digital Equity Network
"For the last three years, Merlin has been instrumental in helping us design, launch, and implement our dual language program at our community school.” — Nancy Correa, Principal, Paterson School 16
"Merlin has been our guide in deciding how to thoughtfully integrate AI into our work with women and girls.” — Patricia Jacovina, COO, Girls Inc. of New York City
"Merlin helped us design both the framework and the implementation plan for our network-wide innovation strategy.” — Jass Stewart, Chief Innovation Officer, Alliance Charter Schools
"Merlin has been an invaluable partner in helping our teachers understand how to leverage AI in community-centered and empowering ways." — Kevin Waters, Managing Director, Program Partnerships & Integration, Teach For America Philadelphia