Hi, I’m Tricia. I’m a consultant based in Houston.

I help nonprofits and small businesses design, evaluate, and improve their programs to better serve people in need. And I help people document and share their best ideas.

Most recently, I wrote a feasibility study for a textile innovation lab and economic engine and a report on the handwork landscape for makers and artisans in Houston. I’ve also facilitated a strategic planning process for a nonprofit safeguarding democracy and developed grant applications for nonprofits serving children from preschool to post-secondary training. I’ve written playbooks documenting innovative programs with the potential to transform learning pathways for opportunity youth in Greater Houston.

In the past, I've written resource guides for parents and caregivers, commissioned and edited lesson plans for open sharing in schools and informal learning spaces, and created toolkits to help people adapt innovative ideas to suit their own communities' needs. I’ve worked as a classroom teacher and led teacher professional development events, and I've designed and led workshops for children and adults on subjects including college admissions & financial aid, creative writing, curriculum design, open educational resources, learning and the brain, and educational technology.

About PMK

I spent the first decade of my career working in schools as a teacher and administrator, and I’ve since transitioned to working in the nonprofit sector. Here in Houston, I serve as the Director of Development for the Prelude Music Foundation, a nonprofit that brings research-based movement and music programming to 3,300+ preschool children in underserved neighborhoods across the city of Houston. I also teach early childhood Music Together® classes for the Foundation’s sister organiation, Prelude Music Classes for Children. Additionally, I’m the Principal Consultant for Projects-Matter, a consulting firm that works with start-ups, small businesses, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations to build thriving communities. I’ve written grant applications, feasibility studies, facilitation manuals, strategic plans, and more.

I also serve on the board of Bike The Woodlands Coalition, my community’s bicycle advocacy organization, and I’ve served as an active transportation representative on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Subcommittee of the Transportation Advisory Committee for the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

Since 2013, I have worked as an expert reviewer of websites, apps, and games for Common Sense Media, the leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

My work as a teacher and facilitator is deeply informed by universal design for learning and human-centered design, and I’m inspired by open education practices. I’m a proud member of the Mozilla community, where I participated in the international Open Leaders Fellowship program in 2017. I’m also a classically trained pianist and singer, an avid cyclist, and sometimes I teach spin classes.

I hold a master's degree in Mind, Brain, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor's degree in Plan II Honors and English from the University of Texas at Austin. I’ve also completed coursework in program evaluation and analysis at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, and I’m currently a Fellow of the Coffee & Quality Program led by the United Way of Greater Houston.

Key Services

Writing & Research

As a founding member of the editorial team for Common Sense Media’s education channel, I’ve written more than 200 critical reviews of websites, apps, and games for teachers and parents. Most recently, I’ve focused on social media (like YouTube Kids and TikTok), productivity tools, literacy platforms, and music apps.  

Additionally, I’ve built toolkits and manuals to help people facilitate conversations, teach engaging lessons, forge new connections, and gather feedback. I’ve written grant proposals, feasibility studies, action plans, and white papers, and I’ve edited everything from blog posts to doctoral dissertations. I help people share their stories with the audiences who matter most, whether it’s prospective funders who might support their work or fellow community members who might benefit from lessons learned.

Program Design, Project Management, & Facilitation

I bring 10+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector to a diverse range of clients who are creating new programs, engaging with new audiences, and telling new stories about their transformative work. I add critical capacity through my interdisciplinary experiences as a teacher, writer, researcher, project manager, and curriculum designer.

I’m also a skilled facilitator of large-scale events, small staff retreats, and everything in between. I’m a former classroom teacher and a LUMA Institute-trained human-centered design practitioner, and I’m committed to hosting supportive, productive conversations that help participants share their insights and advance their thinking. I’ve designed and led engaging experiences that provoke lively interactions, call participants to action, and help clients better understand their stakeholders’ needs.

Contact

I love helping people connect more effectively and work more creatively with the people they serve.
I’m currently accepting small consulting engagements for 2025. Get in touch and let's talk about how we might work together.