Meet Shraya! Shraya is our Associate Manager for Content at Empatico. That means she designs all the fun social-emotional learning activities educators use to foster empathy with their students. Get to know all the awesome work she does!
- Name:
Shraya Sharma
- Title:
Associate Manager, Content
- Where are you based?
New York City, New York
- What do you do at Empatico?
I focus on content development at Empatico! I work with a wonderful group of colleagues and community members (shout-out to all our educators and partners!) to create activities around social-emotional learning that spark fun, meaningful interactions between students, while building key competencies that make them more compassionate, empathetic, and curious individuals.
- Tell us about your professional journey and how you ended up at Empatico. Why did you join the Empatico team?
Before my current role at Empatico, I worked in different classroom settings, such as specialized schools for students with special needs, early education centers, and language learning programs. I loved being creative in these roles, and discovering ways to infuse important learning goals into activities that appealed to children’s natural interests and fostered their individual talents.
When I applied to Empatico, I was so excited to increase the scale and impact of this work by creating content and program experiences that would be used by students all over the world! As someone who has always been fortunate to live in fairly diverse communities, I was also drawn to Empatico’s focus on giving all students the opportunity to share their stories, learn about (and from) each other, and build cross-cultural friendships together.
- What is the most exciting project you’re working on right now?
There are so many exciting projects right now at Empatico – it’s hard to pick just one! If I had to, though, I’m really excited to be working on a series of resources to make it easier for educators and students to get started on their Empatico journey. We’re calling it “The Beginner’s Quest”, and through a combination of videos, games, and activities, we’re hoping to build everyone’s confidence and excitement for their first connection with a partner class!
- Can you share a memory of a teacher who made a difference in your life?
One of my favorite teachers is Mr. Javier, who taught a Mythology and Folklore class that I took in high school. He introduced me to some of my favorite books—like Siddhartha and Grendel—and hosted the most thought-provoking discussions afterwards to help us practice skills like critical thinking and self-reflection as we shared our perspectives on the books. I still think of him whenever I finish reading a book!
- What is your favorite way to start the workday?
First step: Give lots of attention to my dog, Max.
Second step: Coffee.
Third step: Check the Empatico Slack channels and send lots of emojis and giphys to team members.
And finally, make a to-do list for the day and get started!
- What song have you had on repeat recently?
I’m obsessed with the new season of Stranger Things, so “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush has been playing nonstop at our home to keep Vecna away!
