Teaching Children to Think Big and Dream Boldly
Who We Are
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Staff
Gloria D. Matlock
Founder and Director
Gloria Matlock is a teacher, advocate, musician, and community organizer, who resides in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Gloria Matlock's experiences as a music teacher and advocate for racial justice have enabled her to create an enrichment program for students that integrates academics with art and music, within a multicultural framework.
As an African-American woman, raised in a family that struggled financially, Gloria Matlock understands the challenges confronting her students. Inspired by her parents, who instilled in Ms. Matlock and her siblings the value of education, she created Twice as Smart to not only improve the children’s academic skills, but also to enable them to develop self-esteem and recognize their potential.
Gloria Matlock has created an environment of consistency and unconditional positive regard that serves as a buffer against the harsh challenges confronting her students. She provides children with the tools to resist the school to prison pipeline, guiding them on a path that promotes resilience, academic success, and the opportunity to dream big!
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Gloria Matlock is the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award presented by Greenfield Community College for her efforts to carry on Dr. King’s ideals in the community. She was also named 2023 Humanitarian of the Year by the Greenfield Human Rights Commission.
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In 2024, Gloria received a Superhero award from the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce for her service to the community.
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The state legislature honored Gloria in 2025 with a Black Excellence award as a Black leader in the Commonwealth.
​Aidin Martinez Luna
Coordinator
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Aidin Martinez Luna grew up in the countryside in Coamo, PR with her parents and sisters. She came to the United States in 2018, learning English at the Center for New Americans. Aidin now lives in Greenfield MA, with her two children and her husband. She joined Twice As Smart because she likes to help people, especially children. Aidin feels happy when she can help someone. It satisfies her to see the children happy, when she helps them with reading, writing or mathematics and then hears that they succeed or believe, “I can do it! I did it!". The thing she most likes about Twice As Smart is assisting children and young people, while giving them the opportunity to express themselves no matter where they come from. Everyone is welcome at Twice As Smart.​
Emily Whitney
Administrator
Emily Whitney worked as an Admissions Associate at Stoneleigh-Burnham School and as a Dorm Parent at the Bement School. She has been a stay-at-home mom and lives in Greenfield with her husband and three boys. Emily is an active volunteer at the Baystate FMC hospital gift shop and a member of Second Congregational Church. Emily was introduced to the TAS program in 2022 and has regularly helped gather donations for TAS students. She joined as TAS Administrator in the summer of 2024.
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Board
Amy Clarke
Member, Second Congregational Church
Amy Clarke is a lifelong resident of Greenfield and 50 year member of Second Congregational Church. She brings community connections and experience with fund- raising to the TAS Board, having volunteered for many years with the United Way of Franklin County, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Interfaith Council Housing Assistance Committee, and the Church Street Home. After raising her family of five, she returned to the workplace as coordinator of service-learning and parent involvement grants for the Greenfield Public Schools; for eleven years, she served as Executive Director of the Franklin County Community Meals Program. In 2010 she was honored to receive the Franklin County Citizen of the Year award. Amy, her husband, Doug, and two more generations of their family all volunteer for TAS.
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Hidy Goguen Osorio
Manager, Greenfield Savings Bank
Hidy grew up in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2016, she moved to the United States to learn English and aviation. She moved to Massachusetts after living in Florida and began her career in the banking industry. Starting as a teller in 2018, Hidy quickly showcased her dedication and leadership skills, rising through the ranks. She now serves as the Branch Manager and an Officer at Greenfield Savings Bank in Turners Falls.
Driven by a strong desire to help others, Hidy joined Twice As Smart to contribute to her community. Through her role in the organization, she shares her expertise and passion for financial education, making a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
Heidi Haas
Theater Improv Teacher and Clinical Social Worker
Heidi Haas is a clinical social worker and a theater educator. She has a private practice in Northampton and specializes in children, teens and families. Her theater work has included teaching theater improvisation to children and teens since 1996 and coaching Northampton High School’s improv troupe Funktionlust. In addition, Heidi has collaborated with other community people to create a theater education group at NHS called Caught Off Guard and a writing program, Improv Out which uses improv to help children write their own stories.​
Michael Kane
Economic Development Consultant
Michael Kane was an economic development analyst and strategic planner for Mt. Auburn Associates, a small consulting firm in Somerville, MA. He was also the Director of the Northern Tier Project, a regional economic development project initiated by former Congressman John Olver. He was co-founder of the Northampton Education Foundation. He also took part in a number of internationally-focused efforts to end conflicts in Latin America, the Middle East and the Balkans. He has been part of the Twice As Smart team for the last 3 years.
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Varinda Robinson
Educator
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Varinda Robinson is an accomplished educator with a passion for teaching and learning and a commitment to academic excellence. Varinda has gained extensive experience in various educational settings. She has taught in public schools where she worked with students and staff from diverse backgrounds and abilities. Her expertise lies in designing and fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment and coaching groups to become well-rounded and productive citizens while gaining a genuine love for learning under her guidance. Varinda is currently serving in the role of Federal Programs Administrator for the Newport News City Public Schools, in Newport News, VA. In addition, she actively volunteers her time and expertise as a mentor, a role model, and continues to make a profound impact on the lives of her school community.
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Deborah Shriver
Educator; Water Resource Consultant
Deborah Shriver is a former educator, consultant and researcher in water resource protection. As a volunteer she has helped to permanently protect local forestland and advocate for responsible development in her town. She works for the protection of voting rights in the US and humanitarian aid for Syria. She has served on community school boards and those of other organizations. She has known Gloria Matlock for more than thirty years.​
Sara Weinberger
Professor Emerita of Social Work
Sara Weinberger taught social work and was chair of the BSW program at Western New England University in Springfield. She co-created Voices from Inside, a creative writing program for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, and has been involved in community education and activism to alleviate the suffering in Darfur, Syria, and with Healing Across the Divides, an organization that funds grassroots public health programs for marginalized people in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. She was a founding member of the Northampton Reparations Committee and writes a monthly column focused on social justice for The Daily Hampshire Gazette.
Sara joined the board of Twice as Smart in 2022 and is thrilled to be involved with this organization, which involves children in so many enriching opportunities.
Advisory Board
Tara Brewster, VP of Business Development & Director of Philanthropy, Greenfield Savings Bank
Douglas Clarke, TAS Finance Committee & Member, Second Congregational Church
Jessye Dean, Executive Director, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce
Judy Raper, Associate Dean for Community Engagement, Greenfield Community College
Marc Smiley, Principal, Solid Ground Consulting, Strategic Planning
Aija Pyrtel, Human Resource Executive, Northeast Region
Emily Whitney, Community Connector
Volunteer Tutors and Helpers
Laurie Boosahda, Educator
Ben Clarke, Corporate Communications Consultant
Karin Clough, Member of Second Congregational Church
Alice Goodwin Brown, Former teacher
Heidi Haas, Theater Improv Teacher and Clinical Social Worker
Barbara Hanssens, Retired teacher
Michael Nix, Musical Instructor
Zia Salomon-Fernandez, Student Tutor
Bowie Solodky, Student Tutor
We are grateful for our volunteer tutors from Deerfield Academy, Stoneleigh-Burnham School, M&T Bank, and Second Congregational Church​​​
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