Professional Experience
Writing Coach, GemmaCooperNovack.com, Boston, MA and elsewhere (2011-present)
Instructor, Various Writing Courses, Brookline Adult and Community Education, Brookline, MA (2014-present)
Instructor, “Writing Rights,” Boston Plan for Excellence, Boston, MA (2013-2014)
Resident Writing Coach, Boston Teacher Residency, Boston, MA (2013-2014)
Writing Coach, Access and Disabilities Services, Harvard Graduate School of Education (2010–2014)
Adult Education Instructor, Truman College at Association House of Chicago (2007–08)
High School Tutor, Howard Area Community Center, Chicago, IL (2007)
ESL Tutor, Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries, Chicago, IL (2004–05)
Training
Disabilities Services
Eileen Berger, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Education Neuroscience
L. Todd Rose, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Publications
“Inclusive Practices for Graduate Students with Disabilities: A Writing Coach Model” (with Eileen Connell Berger), NASPA Knowledge Communities (2013)
Conference Presentations
“More Time Is Not Enough: Supporting Graduate Students with Learning Disabilities Using a Writing Coach Model, a Case Study” (with Eileen Connell Berger and Yamila Hussein), Conference on Equity and Social Justice, Syracuse University (2014)
Resources
FAQ: The “Snake Fight” Portion of Your Thesis Defense (McSweeney’s)
Testimonials
Thank you for the impact you have made in my education.
Tabitha
GED student
Gemma helped me break down my work, keep things manageable, and graduate from grad school. She is not only a fabulous organizational coach, but also a fabulous person, who I would recommend without hesitation.
Whitney
educator
Gemma helped me pass the writing portion of the communication/literacy MTEL! She provided me with useful strategies that made the test so much easier.
Joanna
student teacher
We are so appreciative to Gemma for everything she has been doing to help my daughter! The two of them have a really good connection, and my daughter no longer loathes writing as she used to. Gemma has really gotten to know my daughter and her way of working. It's all going in the right direction for her, and we really have Gemma to thank for that. She is a very special "find" for us!
Connie
parent of 8th-grader
"So far Gemma sets reachable weekly goals that have helped me a leave a serious year or two of writer's block. She's also been great with visualizing the presentation of qualitative data in diagrams and figures."
Abra
writer
Get in Touch
Contact me to collaborate on writing, editing, education, and theater!