Actually, it's not a secret at all. I'm a teacher with ADHD!

That means that some days, the lesson plans are on a sticky note or thought up in the bathroom (pls don't tell my principal 🥴), and I assign a student to keep track of all the random places I lose the papers that I JUST printed.

But it also means...

Not quite Type A, not quite Type B—but a (*slightly* unhinged) secret, third thing

meet your internet teacher bestie

The kids *actually* learn!

and the best part??

That I know how to design organizational systems and lessons that even the most scattered, burn out prone teacher brains LOVE.

hi there!

I'm Maya

I'm an ELA teacher who's also a data & spreadsheet freak (but I refuse to do a simple equation without a calculator because I need a 0% error rate, okay??). I teach dance part-time, but I could also lay in bed for 12 hours—even though I can't sleep past 5:30am. I studied Film & Media Studies at Georgetown University, and yet...my attention span (or lack thereof) makes actually sitting through a full movie virtually impossible. I cherish children's media (shout out to Fred Rogers), but I could also do a one-woman show performing Nene Leakes' most viral quotes. And I might start a conversation talking about classroom management and touch on my thoughts on hair care, Bravo hot takes, my favorite font combos, and my political views—all in 7 minutes.

If that felt relatable, you're the exact teacher I built Gentler for.

You’re burnt out because you care too much — and you’re carrying systems that were never designed for real classrooms, real kids, or real human nervous systems (yours or theirs).

I know this because I’ve lived it.

I’ve taught with scripted curricula that didn’t fit my students or their needs at all.
I’ve taught “great lessons” only to realize that by Tuesday, my students had full-on amnesia.
I’ve spent entire weekends planning things that technically worked… but I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up.
I've watched my blood pressure rise to stroke levels due to the stressful demands of the job
And I’ve stared at student data thinking, “Admin must think I’m Harry Potter.” 😭

What finally clicked wasn’t a new planner, a cuter anchor chart, or a better morning routine.

It was realizing that teaching feels unbearable when the systems behind it are misaligned—when instruction, behavior, pacing, and assessment are all pulling in different directions, and you are the glue holding it together.

That’s where my work lives.

Here's how I can help you:

Here’s the thing I know about tired teachers (especially the smart ones like us 😉):

You’re not burnt out because you don’t care.

Not performative data.
Not “just trust the process” data.
(Actually) useful, calming, decision-making data.

The kind that helps you:

walk into class with a plan that actually makes sense to you
respond to student needs without reinventing the wheel
teach in a way that sticks — for your students and your nervous system
stop wondering if you’re doing enough (you are)
and start feeling steady instead of constantly behind

I don’t believe teaching needs to be harder to be effective.

I believe it needs to be clearer, more intentional, and more humane...WITHOUT lowering expectations or sacrificing rigor.

If you’re a new teacher who’s already exhausted…

or a capable teacher quietly wondering how long you can keep this up…

or someone who loves the idea of teaching but hates how it currently feels…

Now that we've handled introductions, let's get some important things out the way...

You’re exactly who I build Gentler for.

I help teachers create systems that make their jobs feel like something they could actually do for a while—and get the data that shows what’s working, what needs adjusting, and what they can finally stop stressing over.

Turning on my candle warmer, morning protein shake + ADHD meds (breakfast of champions!), prep period sigh of relief

daily rituals

Color coding a data spreadsheet, flipping through a book, teaching a dance class, discussing Shrek with my 4th graders (happens more often than you might think)

YOU CAN FIND ME:

Uncontrolled chaos, lengthy lectures, reading as a punishment, complaining without eventually seeking a solution, going into the boys' bathroom (yuck)