Crystal grew up in the Bronx, where her parents both worked as civil servants. (Her mother retired as a classroom teacher!) Crystal holds two master’s degrees, one in Strategic and Leadership Management and another in Educational Leadership.
Crystal’s professional journey includes roles in both education and the private sector. Crystal spent a decade working in the private sector, holding various positions including Strategy & Alignment Analyst at Lowe’s Home Improvement before transitioning into education. She served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Schools Officer at Ascend Learning Charter School through the Education Pioneers Fellow Program. In that role she managed a $2M contract portfolio and implemented programs to address Covid-related learning loss. After being selected as a Broad Resident, Crystal served as Special Project Analyst for the Chief Operating Officer of the School District of Palm Beach County, managing key performance indicators and leading process improvement efforts. As General Manager of Transportation Operations, she directed a diverse transportation team, fostered labor relations, and negotiated favorable contract terms.
Crystal’s “Why”
Crystal’s initial reluctance to enter the field of education was shaped by witnessing her mother’s struggles as a classroom teacher. However, her perspective changed when she faced the challenge of navigating educational choices for her own children. She realized that her strategic background could be a powerful tool for making a positive impact in education.
This realization led her to leave her successful career in strategy and enter the educational sector through the Broad Residency program. Her experiences in Palm Beach County Schools, especially during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforced her commitment to improving educational systems and supporting communities. Crystal’s dedication to education is driven by her belief that every problem has a solution, a lesson instilled in her by her parents and one she continues to uphold in her work.
