A native New Yorker, Rachel Dahill-Fuchel is herself the product of 12 years of NYC public schools. She then earned her BA in English and Theatre Arts from Queens College of the City University of New York, followed by her Masters in Performance and Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston, and then earned her Professional Diploma in the Administration of Urban Education from Fordham University. Rachel began her career in the NYC Department of Education more than 35 years ago, and has taught English Language Arts, Theatre Arts, Spanish, Humanities, Advisory, Conflict Mediation and a variety of classes in schools throughout NYC, Boston, California, and Mexico. Helping support educators and students with using Social Emotional Learning is an area of Rachel’s deep commitment and interest. She brought this vital work to her role as a professional developer with UFT Teacher Centers, where Rachel supported teachers and communities for many years, before being charged with pioneering a new high school. She culminated her career within the New York City Department of Education as the Executive Director of Academic Support for District 79 – where the most marginalized students strive to succeed. Rachel teaches secondary education for the City University of New York and trains hundreds of staff, families, and students around the city through her work at the esteemed not-for-profit, Counseling in Schools. During COVID, Rachel pursued her doctoral degree with the International University of Graduate Studies, which she completed with the successful defense of her manuscript – Gathering the Extraordinary. Having written many published articles and essays for many years, this is Rachel’s first book.