Dr. Monica Brase

TransformED Academy (TEDA) is an innovative high school designed to re-engage disengaged and disconnected learners. Through a competency-based education framework, TEDA places learners at the center of their educational journey, emphasizing voice, choice, and real-world application through project-based and work-based learning.

Founded by Dr. Monica Brase, TEDA reflects her deep commitment to youth voice, educational justice, and alternative learning pathways. A seasoned educational leader and advocate, Dr. Brase has led significant improvements in student achievement and school culture as Principal of Burns Latino Studies Academy, a turnaround school. She is widely recognized as an expert in alternative education and has led impactful youth participatory action research initiatives. In addition to her school-based leadership, Dr. Brase serves as an educational consultant for nonprofit and educational institutions, including COMPASS Youth Collaborative, Chicopee Public Schools, and the Connecticut State Department of Higher Education.