Willow Alston-Socha has served as an educator, district administrator, curriculum leader, instructional coach, research analyst, and education consultant, bringing more than 20 years of experience in K–12 education. She has taught high school science, led district curriculum, and advanced large-scale instructional initiatives focused on technology integration, inquiry-based learning, STEM, and family engagement. Willow has been recognized as a Kenan Fellow, a Fellow of the North Carolina Science Education Leadership Association, and was chosen to serve on Governor’s Teacher Network.

As a PhD student in Educational Psychology at North Carolina State University, Willow researched how instructional practices, metacognitive strategy training, and technology integration influence student learning, comprehension, and self-monitoring. Her recent studies have examined the effects of explicit metacognitive strategy instruction in both game-based learning environments and yearlong classroom interventions, identifying the role of prior knowledge and vocabulary in developing calibration accuracy, comprehension, and domain knowledge.

Willow’s technical assistance expertise includes designing and leading professional development, conducting comprehensive program evaluations, and providing strategic consulting and executive coaching. She has supported districts in creating instructional frameworks, developing professional learning programs, and planning and implementing initiatives. Her work has also included leading and supporting state- and nationwide initiatives that contribute to sustainable instructional improvement across multiple levels of the education system.

Outside of her professional work, Willow is the mother of four boys and enjoys gardening, hiking, and singing in the choir.