Founder/Principal Educator

Iris designed her own Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration, “Expressive Education” combining theories of education, psychology, theater, art, and dance from UMass Amherst after combining previous part-time classes from Middlesex Community College, Mass College of Art and UMass Boston.  She has worked with “at-risk” youth in an afterschool, an expressive therapy summer camp, special education classrooms and a toddler Montessori house.

Her Master’s in Education from Lesley University focused on Creative Arts in Learning.  During that study she further developed Growing Arts, offering creative movement, tactile and experiential art and free play in Newton, MA through the Parks and Recreation Department.  

ADHD has played an interesting role in her education, at times making it very difficult. However, her creativity, drive and can-do attitude has led her to create Growing Arts.

Iris’ style of facilitation is to focus on every member of a group and the group as a whole at the same time. Her diverse curriculum and her vast interests allow her to try new projects at a moment's notice. Her strong sensory needs enable her to view the potential needs of others, be it soothing ambiance rather than visual busyness, soft lighting rather than flickering or noisy fluorescents, and creativity stations to work at that offer sitting, standing or sprawling options.