Meet the Team
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Meredith Gooch
Founder; Book Busy Teacher
Meredith was a classroom teacher for ten years before starting Book Busy in 2017. Her teaching passion started at five years old (when she was often seen in her playroom setting up a classroom and labeling chairs). When she’s not teaching or chasing after her two little ones, Meredith is often enjoying a cup of tea, with her head in a book (children’s lit is her favorite genre, if you can believe it).
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Damon Gooch
Founder; Operations
Damon was born in South Africa and came to the states to play collegiate tennis. He is now on an investment team with Brown Advisory. Damon can best be described as Book Busy’s COO and CFO, overseeing both the financial and business operations of the company. Between Brown, Book Busy, Meredith, and his two little ones, Damon has a full court to manage!
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Katie Dilley
Book Busy Teacher
Katie grew up in Byram, New Jersey, but is originally from Oregon. She has degrees from James Madison University, and over ten years of teaching experience. When she is not teaching or supporting teachers in her Instructional Coaching position, Katie can be found cooking, binge watching a new show, or traveling. Katie is an avid reader and coffee enthusiast!
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Cody Eickmeyer
Cody was born and raised in Montana before moving to the nation's capital to be with his now-wife. He has 12 years of teaching experience with a strong focus on relationship building and social-emotional skills. When he's not working with students, he's adding another hobby to his ever-growing collection or exploring DC parks with his pandemic puppy, Bean.
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Natalia Gousseva
Book Busy Teacher
Natalia is a native of the captivating and unique Land of Fire and Ice, Kamchatka, Russia. She has a master's degree in Education and ESL from the Linguistic University of Nizhni Novgorod, and brings over a decade of diverse teaching experience to her role. Prior to classroom teaching, Natalia worked as a Language and Culture instructor at the Foreign Service Institute with the US State Department, preparing American diplomats for service. Natalia is a polyglot, fluent in French and Russian, conversational Spanish, basic German, and so much more. She loves to travel and has many friends all over the world!
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Emma Palmer
Book Busy Teacher
Though she grew up in Atlanta, GA, Emma Palmer has called Washington, D.C. home since 2007. As a multi-passionate entrepreneur and community builder, she usually has many projects running in the background, with teaching being a steady constant ever since spending a year as an English teacher in France. Now, she works as a private French tutor and part-time teacher and is thrilled to join the Book Busy team. When she's not in the classroom, she's probably working on producing her podcast "The Good Dirt", walking her dog, or going to a dance class.
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Alyssa Penick
Born and raised in the Washington area, Alyssa is proud to call D.C. home. She received her Master's and Ph.D. in American History from the University of Michigan and has more than a decade of teaching experience working with young learners of all ages. Outside of the classroom, she loves to cook recipes from all over the world, take walks along the Potomac with her poodle, Hugo, and spend time with her husband and son.
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Erica Proctor
Book Busy Teacher
Erica is a proud Jersey girl who has been teaching for eight years. She received her B.A. in Education from American University and had her first teaching experience with Meredith in D.C. Since then, Erica has moved up and down the east coast before finally settling in sunny Miami. When she isn’t reading on the beach after school, Erica can be found playing tennis with friends or scoping out a new favorite sushi restaurant. The spicy tuna roll is her go-to!
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Ashley Schiraldi
Book Busy Teacher
Ashley grew up in Manassas, Virginia. She has a Masters in Education from James Madison University, and has been teaching for over ten years. When she is not teaching, Ashley can be found hiking and/or traveling with her husband and rescue pup! Some of her favorite trips include Peru, Scotland, and any National Park. Ashley is an avid historian, reader, Bills fan, and pizza-eater.
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Meg Williamson
Book Busy Teacher
Meg grew up in the lovely little town of Hillsborough, North Carolina, before going to graduate school in Virginia. Now she lives with her darling daughter and their happy menagerie of rescues on a tiny farm. Her very favorite thing is helping things to grow, from seeds and trees to goslings and goats to ideas, artists, and stories.