Stacey Merchant is a Senior Educational Consultant with Teaching Matters, bringing more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education, program leadership, and educator development, with a career long focus on expanding access to quality education for children in underserved communities. Prior to joining Teaching Matters, Stacey served as Center Manager of an Early Head Start program, where she led full cycle coaching and professional development for program staff and educators.
Stacey began her career in the classroom as an early childhood educator before advancing into leadership roles, and throughout her career she has been driven by a passion for equitable education and a deep desire to support her fellow educators. Early on, she learned that building authentic relationships with families and supporting the whole child, not just the classroom experience, is essential to closing the education gap and ensuring every child has a genuine opportunity to thrive.
Stacey holds a NYS Teaching Certification for children from preschool through sixth grade. She earned her Master’s in Education from Manhattanville College and her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Education from Lehman College. At Teaching Matters, she will spend her time supporting teachers and leaders in implementing practices that balance play based experiences and academic rigor to meet the needs of our youngest learners.