About Manhattan Beach-based Innovative Education Partners and Erin Gordon Grady

About Innovative Education Partners

Innovative Education Partners was founded to support and guide students toward pursuing their personal and educational goals. Our work is informed by developmental psychology and an understanding of how students can thrive when we consider and integrate all aspects and influences from their social, cultural, educational, and larger community environments. We strive to develop collaborative and impactful relationships with our clients by partnering with parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, and others significant to students' lives to obtain the best educational and personal outcomes. We help students learn about themselves and teach them to reflect on their interests, ideas, and experiences. Our students are empowered to become their own best advocates while creating a unique, individualized pathway to their future. Engaging fully in educational and service endeavors that are personally meaningful, enjoyable, and impactful for the larger community are core principles of our work.

ERIN GORDON GRADY

PhD (abd), Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine
MA, Child Development and Family Relationships, University of Texas, Austin
BA/BS, English and Psychology, Texas Christian University
Certification in College Advising and Career Planning, University of California, Berkeley
Certifications in College Advising for the Student-Athlete, Student Athlete Advisors & National Association for College Admission Counseling

MORE ABOUT ME

As a mom of two developing young people whose interests and curiosities continue to fascinate and amaze me daily, I know intimately the challenges, stress, and joy the teenage years and transition to college bring. My younger son is a freshman in high school, a sports and lifestyle photographer, entrepreneur, basketball player, and avid recreational golfer. My oldest lives his dream of playing college football at Bucknell University while being an active Phi Gamma Delta fraternity member, pursuing his own educational goals, taking classes of interest, and creating career opportunities.

I hold a certification in college advising and career planning from the University of California, Berkeley and have completed a practicum in college counseling at Notre Dame Academy High School in Los Angeles. Specific to guiding student athletes, I completed the Advising the College-Bound Student Athlete certificate program and the National Association for College Admission Counseling program in the Student-Athlete Advising Process.

My passion for supporting students and families, being a community resource in the field of education, and my personal experience as a parent inspired me to assist other students and families through their educational journeys into higher education. As a researcher and writer of numerous academic papers, presentations, and publications, I bring this expertise to assist my students in developing and writing college essays. A lifelong learner and advocate for children and families, I have worked in program development and evaluation, trained and mentored educators, served as an advocate, advisor, and consultant, and been a high school and college faculty member. I have been a consultant to a wide variety of organizational settings, including WestEd, California Department of Education, UCLA Department of Education, First5LA, Los Angeles Universal Preschool, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Culver City Unified School District, El Camino Community College Child Development Department, and various private and non-profit educational programs.

As an undergraduate at Texas Christian University, I was an involved community member, president of my sorority, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Psychology and English. Interested in developmental psychology and research, I earned an MA in Child Development and Family Relationships from the University of Texas at Austin, the graduate student research award, and excellence in teaching distinction. After working in a community-based non-profit educational setting, I attended a doctoral program at the University of California, Irvine in Psychology and Social Behavior, specializing in Developmental Psychology with emphases in Criminology and Child Psychopathology.

Since moving to Manhattan Beach 16 years ago, I have been involved extensively in the local educational community, serving as an elementary school PTA President, middle and high school PTA VP of Programs, legislative representative, active board member of two Mira Costa athletics booster clubs, as well as a member of the District Advisory Council, Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, Social-Emotional Wellness Committee, and school site council yearly program evaluation for the high school. I was also involved in the Challenge Success program, a partnership with Stanford University Graduate School of Education to decrease stress and create healthier school environments, and the development and launch of the district-wide Makerspace.

Mom and son with college mascot at football game

Giving Back

We volunteer to provide pro bono college counseling services to underserved students in the greater Los Angeles community on a case-by-case basis. A founding principal is to support students who would appreciate and could benefit from working with a college counselor.

Committed to community impact, we are proud to be a Presidential Volunteer Service Award Certifying Organization. The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is sponsored by AmeriCorps, the federal agency that supports volunteering efforts throughout the United States, and honors outstanding volunteers and their meaningful involvement in their communities.

Schedule a Consultation

[email protected]
310.428.1292