We were lucky to catch up with Alicia Woolf, Joanna Hightower, And Shira Woolf Cohen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alicia Woolf, Joanna Hightower, and Shira Woolf Cohen, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Knowing your purpose is so central to our lives and our work together, that we make sure to ask everyone we partner with. The reason the three of us came together after years of knowing each other was because our purposes align so well. That’s what makes our business partnership work, we consistently go back to what we call your “Why.” We each have a unique one, but they complement each other and help us approach our work with compassion, curiosity, and confidence. Here are our “Why” stories:
Alicia: My “Why” is grounded in my childhood experiences. Growing up in a blended family with 5 siblings (maybe 8 depending on your definition of sibling), several parents and parent figures, and multiple religions, generations, and languages in one household, the glue holding us all together was acceptance and belonging. We went through some tough times, but what was clear was the strength in being together. We all had our part, and at the end of the day you always had someone to turn to or remind you of your value for being just you. I really learned the importance of always having someone to turn to and the confidence of feeling like I belonged. I know that, if I hadn’t, I would be in a very different place, perhaps a much lonelier and less successful place. What this means is that my “Why” is to ensure the people around me feel like they belong, can be their true selves, and are included. What I do right now is that I am a teacher, consultant, and education leader. While that professional title may change, “Why” I do what I do never will, and I will take that purpose with me unconditionally. It’s very grounding and comforting to walk steadfastly in that purpose.
Shira: My journey into education is deeply personal. I was a disengaged student—unseen, unmotivated, and underestimated by most of my teachers. I did enough to get by, but school was something I endured rather than embraced. Yet outside of school, in community-based programs and youth groups, I thrived. There, I found adults who believed in me, challenged me, and provided opportunities that shaped my confidence and leadership. One teacher, Mrs. Schindleman, stood out—she saw her students as whole people, creating a classroom where we were valued and encouraged. In contrast, some educators doubted my abilities, reinforcing a divide between who I was in school and who I was beyond it. These experiences drive my work today. I am committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to meaningful learning experiences, supportive adults, and opportunities that unlock their potential. I do this work because I know firsthand the difference it makes when someone believes in you and helps open opportunities.
Joanna: My “Why” is deeply rooted in my own school experience as a Puerto Rican girl in predominantly white schools. Though I was born in Delaware and fluent in English, I was erroneously placed in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes starting in 1st grade. I vividly remember being pulled out of my literacy block each day to work with “Señora Matos” in a small resource room. While I felt some cultural comfort in her presence, I never fully understood why I had to leave my classroom. The deficit mindset held by my teachers, which viewed my bilingualism as a hindrance rather than a strength, was a constant throughout my early schooling, not just for me but for other kids who looked like me.
This continued until I met my 4th grade teacher, who truly “saw” me. She recognized that I didn’t need remedial support, but rather that I should be tested for gifted education. That experience marked a turning point in my life, as I finally felt acknowledged for my potential rather than my limitations. However, that same deficit mindset about Black and Brown children is still widespread in classrooms today, continuing to limit the opportunities and success of many students.
I do this work to ensure that educators stop operating from a position of deficit. It is my mission to help them recognize that Brownness, ethnicity, and multilingualism are not liabilities to overcome but strengths to celebrate and leverage. Every child’s identity, especially the identities of those who have been historically marginalized, should be seen as a powerful asset, not something that needs to be “fixed.” I am committed to shifting that narrative and empowering educators to embrace the diverse superpowers that each student brings.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
The three of us Co-Founders of Innovageous met about 20 years ago when we were all working at Camp Girard, a summer program that took place on the beautiful, historic campus of Girard College in Philadelphia. Shira was the Director, Joanna was the Assistant Director, and Alicia was an aspiring teacher working as a camp counselor. Although Shira and Alicia are sisters and of course knew each other already, there was something synergistic and familial about all three of us together, including Joanna, so much that we spent several summers returning and re-creating that magic until Camp Girard ended.
Fast forward 15 years, and the world looked completely different—especially education. It was 2020, and COVID had flipped everything upside down. Schools, families, and communities were scrambling to keep learning going, and we knew from firsthand experience (as educators and as moms) that powerful solutions were out there. The problem? They weren’t always shared. So, we stepped up.
We launched Innovageous—a name that reflects exactly who we are: innovative and courageous. Our mission is to ensure continuity of learning and inclusive opportunities for all children by helping schools, educators, and families develop sustainable, impactful solutions. We kicked things off with three free virtual series, drawing hundreds of participants from around the world. That experience confirmed what we already knew—the power of community, the need for connection, and the resilience of our learners.
Since then, we’ve partnered with over 50 organizations, helping schools create stronger systems, build positive cultures, and implement high-quality instructional programs. Still, one thought weighs heavily on us: Traditional schooling just isn’t meeting the needs of today’s students, families, or educators.
That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce Innovageous School Design—our bold step toward reimagining education. Drawing from decades of experience in highly effective schools and the evolving needs of today’s learners, we’re providing free tools and resources to communities everywhere. And for schools and organizations looking for customized solutions, we offer tailored services in professional learning, strategic planning, branding, and even tech infrastructure.
At the end of the day, we’re driven by one belief: education should evolve alongside the world around it. And we’re here to make that happen. So, if you’re looking for fresh ideas, meaningful change, and a community that believes in the future of education, let’s connect. We’re ready to innovate—courageously—with you.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three qualities have been most impactful in our journey: the belief that we are better together, being responsive and open to feedback, and the power of a clear vision and values-driven action. These 3 ideas are truly what it means to embody our namesake, Innovageous (innovative and courageous).
First, we are better together. Time and time again, we’ve seen that success isn’t a solo pursuit—it’s built through collaboration, trust, and a commitment to uplifting those around us. The most transformative moments in our journey have come from fostering genuine connections and working collectively toward shared goals. This includes understanding that our diversity makes us stronger. We embrace our differences—not just as something to accept, but as a driving force behind our success. Diverse perspectives challenge us, expand our thinking, and push us to be better. We do this in big ways (our entire business approach rests on the power of collaboration) and in little ways – we had our wonderful graphic designer create stickers with our unique phrases and symbols that we each have on our laptops and waterbottles. Alicia has a black cat and the phrase, “Everyone gets what everyone needs.” Shira has a flower and the phrase, “High support, high accountability.” Joanna has a bee and the phrase, “Inspect what you expect.”
Second, being responsive and embracing lifelong learning has allowed us to adapt, grow, and thrive. The world is constantly changing, and the ability to listen, learn, and pivot when needed has been essential to our success. Our partners return to us time and time again because we do our best to hear their needs and make our support customized. By staying curious, open-minded, and committed to continuous improvement, we’ve been able to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.
Finally, a clear vision and values-driven action have been the foundation of everything we’ve built. Before taking any step forward, we defined what mattered most to us. Our vision and values have guided our decisions, strengthened our partnerships, and kept us aligned even in the face of challenges.
For those just starting their journey, our advice is simple: Seek out people who share your vision and values, build relationships rooted in trust and inclusion, and embrace the power of diverse perspectives. When you lead with clarity, surround yourself with the right people, and commit to collective success, you’ll build something far greater than you could alone.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Our Innovageous team is looking to build an ecosystem of partners to ensure this work is truly innovative and courageous – we need your help! Our partners include schools, districts, and education organizations, philanthropies, and individuals who share our vision of inclusive education for all that embraces sustainable human-centered wellness initiatives, strong partnerships between schools and communities, dialogue and engagement rooted in global empathy, and the development of future-ready and entrepreneurial youth. Together, these Innovageous School Design principles accelerate our communities into the future and cultivate growth. Our partners are courageous and permissionless. They do not take the easy or simple path, going with the flow of the mainstream, nor do they rely completely on the constraints of the traditional education system to put into action ideas or strategies that are right for kids. Our partners are looking for ways to set the pace and propel students and communities into a future of education that is equitable and responsive to the needs and wellbeing of students, families, and educators. Our partners look for ways to cultivate innovation and creativity within their students, staff, and the stakeholders they serve. They are learning-focused and embrace diversity of thought in order to ensure they are inclusive, welcoming, and adaptive to the needs of their entire community. More about these Innovageous principles can be found at www.innovageous.com/schooldesign.
Ways that you can support include funding, focus groups, and partnerships. If you are a funder, support the development of resources and tools so that this certified Woman-Owned Business can broaden our reach and access by providing these free resources to anyone who wants to make their school community more Innovageous! If you are an industry partner in education and/or professional workspaces who wants to partner with us through ongoing collaboration or to bring our services to your school/organization, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.innovageous.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovageous/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovageousSolutions/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovageous
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