Susana Matos-Kruck - Founder/President
As a business owner of an education consulting company and as an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey, Susana incites teachers, administrators, and parents to collaborate in creating a dynamic and thought-provoking educational experience for their students. As a former school principal and teacher who has worked in Latin America and in Southeast Asia, she encourages educators to embrace the opportunities and challenges that come with diversity. The primary focus of her company is to provide teachers, administrators, and parents with the theory and strategies for creating student thinkers who are self-regulated learners, intrinsically motivated to learn.

Professional Experiences:

Up the Bar Consulting, LLC:  2009-Present
  • Bergenfield, Carteret, Freehold, Garfield, Kearny, Lambertville, Maywood, Montclair, Montville, Nutley, Paterson, Randolph, Ridgewood, Scotch Plains,  South Hunterdon, Upper Freehold, West Orange: 2017-Present 
  • Jeddah Private School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:  August, 2016
  • Keystone Academy in Beijing, China:  March, 2016
  • Irvington Public School District, New Jersey:  March, 2015 - Present
  • Passaic Public School District, New Jersey:  October, 2009 - Present

Adjunct Professor:  2011-Present
  • The College of New Jersey - Adjunct Professor at the Center for Global Education (Teach graduate education courses in Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Spain)

Administrator:  2000-2006
  • Principal of Marie V. Duffy Elementary School in Wharton, NJ
  • Vice Principal of Columbia Middle School in Berkeley Heights, NJ
  • Director of Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark, NJ 

Teacher:  1994-2000
  • 5th and 6th grade teacher at Kaohsiung American School in Taiwan
  • 1st grade teacher at Colegio Maya International School in Guatemala
  • 5th grade bilingual teacher in Camden, New Jersey