Up the Bar Consulting, LLC, Susana Matos-Kruck
"I started my career in education as a fifth-grade bilingual teacher in Camden, NJ. I loved my students—but I also longed to see the world. That desire took me to Latin America and then Southeast Asia, where I taught first and fifth grade at international schools. Those years deepened my understanding of language, culture, and how they intersect in powerful ways in the classroom.
After completing my master's degree in ESL and Educational Administration, I returned to the U.S. ready to effect change by stepping into school leadership. From director of a charter school, to vice principal at a middle school, to principal of an elementary school, I learned how to lead—and how to inspire others to raise the bar on the quality of education their students deserved.
During my time as a principal, I had two beautiful daughters. I decided to stay home for a while to truly get to know them. While I absolutely adored being a full-time mom, after two years, a vision began to take shape. I realized I could still make a meaningful impact in education—this time as a consultant. I could do the work I loved, inspire educators, and make a difference on a part-time basis while being present for my girls.
That’s when I found SCORE. With their support, I began the process of building my company in 2008. I named it Up the Bar because that’s exactly what I set out to do: raise the bar on the quality of professional development teachers and administrators were receiving, so they in turn could raise the bar for their students—especially their multilingual learners.
For the first seven years, I worked in just one district—Passaic—training educators across a system that serves over 16,000 students. That experience laid the foundation. I later expanded into Irvington, where a mentor encouraged me to share my work at conferences and reach more districts.
Today, sixteen years later, along with a formidable team of top-tier professional learning facilitators, we partner with over 30 school districts to improve instructional practices and build systems rooted in equity and excellence. We’ve stayed true to our mission from the beginning. This is how we Up the Bar."
"Up the Bar is a professional development company that partners with school districts to strengthen instruction for multilingual learners. We provide training, coaching, and implementation support grounded in equity, authenticity, and practical application.
What sets us apart is our ability to meet educators where they are, while raising the bar for what’s possible. Every training we deliver is co-constructed and tailored—never one-size-fits-all. Our team of professional learning facilitators includes former administrators and educators who understand the real challenges of today’s classrooms. We don’t just present strategies; we roll up our sleeves and help teachers implement them, offering classroom-based coaching, lesson planning, and thought partnership.
What we want people to know is that Up the Bar is not just about compliance or checking boxes. We are deeply committed to transforming systems so that multilingual learners thrive. We focus on building educator capacity, shifting mindsets, and creating inclusive environments where all students feel seen, supported, and challenged. Districts partner with us because we get results—and because we truly care."
"I started Up the Bar because I saw a painful and persistent problem in our schools: multilingual learners were being underestimated. Teachers cared deeply but often lacked the tools and confidence to challenge their multilingual learners. Instead, they softened expectations—giving easier tasks, requiring less class participation, and excusing these students from academic discourse. In trying to protect them, we were unintentionally holding them back.
What I saw was what I called the land of mediocrity. A place where multilingual learners were treated with kid gloves, shielded from struggle, and denied the opportunity to grow. It wasn’t malicious—it was fear. Fear of pushing too hard. Fear of doing it wrong. Fear of not knowing how.
I knew we could do better.
So I created Up the Bar to empower educators to see what’s possible. To replace fear with skill, hesitation with confidence, and lowered expectations with high challenge and high support. I wanted to help teachers learn how to reach, teach, and truly challenge multilingual learners—not by watering down instruction, but by lifting it up in ways that are linguistically and culturally responsive. That’s what inspired me then—and still drives me now. This is how we up the Bar."
"Up the Bar stands out for its authentic, equity-driven approach. Our team is made up of former educators—teachers, administrators, and specialists—who left stable jobs because we believed so deeply in this mission. We’re practitioners first, which means we don’t approach professional learning from a theoretical distance. We know the field. We understand the realities of the classroom, the pressure of standards, the time constraints, and the emotional demands of the work.
That’s why our approach is never scripted or one-size-fits-all. We partner with educators. We co-construct solutions. We don’t just tell educators what to do—we work alongside them in real time. Whether it's modeling a lesson, planning a unit, or co-teaching a class, we’re in the trenches with them. We believe change sticks when educators experience it, not just hear about it. That’s what we do: we model, we plan, we problem-solve together, and we gradually release ownership so teachers and administrators feel confident doing it on their own.
What makes Up the Bar special is that our work transforms not only practice, but school culture. We help districts shift from compliance to commitment, from fear to confidence, from accommodation to empowerment. It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about building lasting capacity to serve multilingual learners with excellence."
"I was brand new to business. I had a strong vision for what I wanted to build, but absolutely no idea how to make it real. The world of LLCs, business plans, and financials was completely foreign to me. I needed guidance—and that’s exactly what I found in SCORE.
From the very beginning, SCORE felt accessible, welcoming, and incredibly generous with its knowledge. I began attending sessions every two weeks, and what could have been an overwhelming experience quickly became one of empowerment. They walked me through every step, patiently and thoroughly, never making me feel foolish for not knowing something. They built up my confidence when I didn’t have much of it, and helped me go from an idea to a functioning business.
What stands out most is how much they cared. My mentor, Bill Baldwin, treated my business like it mattered—which made me believe it did too. Even now, years later, I still turn to SCORE for support and perspective. They didn’t just help me start my company; they helped me believe I could run it."
"SCORE made all the difference. In the earliest stages, they helped me understand how to legally establish my LLC, plan and price my services, and navigate the logistics of running a business. But more importantly, they helped me build the confidence I needed to believe I could actually do it.
The mentoring I received was absolutely foundational. Having someone like Bill Baldwin—a caring, qualified, and incredibly smart mentor—by my side gave me a sense of security and direction I didn’t even realize I needed. He was always ready with an answer, a resource, or a question that pushed me to think more clearly and strategically. He challenged me to understand not just what I was doing, but why—and to be intentional in every aspect of my business.
He never let me coast. Whether it was reviewing my profit and loss statements, thinking through a staffing plan, or refining how I talked about my services, he guided me with patience and clarity. His mentorship helped me become not just a founder, but a leader.
Today, my business serves dozens of schools across New Jersey and beyond. I employ a team of strong, mission-driven consultants. We are known for our quality, our impact, and our integrity. That foundation—of clarity, confidence, and direction—was laid through my work with SCORE."
"Get involved early. SCORE offers a rare and powerful combination of expertise, generosity, and genuine care. Whether you're launching a new idea or trying to grow an existing business, they will meet you exactly where you are—without judgment, without pressure. They make the world of business feel less intimidating and far more possible.
I’ve always been incredibly appreciative of the support I received from SCORE, especially in those early days when I didn’t even know what questions to ask. Their guidance gave me a foundation—not just in terms of knowledge, but in confidence. That kind of support is priceless.
To this day, I recommend SCORE to anyone and everyone who tells me they’re thinking about starting a business. For me, it’s a non-negotiable. If you’re serious about turning your idea into something real, you need SCORE in your life. You will thank me later."
"Bill Baldwin has been a steady, grounding presence in my entrepreneurial journey. He is thoughtful, wise, and incredibly supportive—but what truly makes him special is his patience and authenticity. Over the years, he has never rushed me or judged me for what I didn’t know. Instead, he’s met me where I was and gently pushed me forward.
Bill has a gift for asking just the right questions—the kind that bring clarity and spark new thinking. And he’s always offered practical, actionable advice, especially in the areas where I’ve struggled most. For example, understanding my profit and loss statements was something I avoided for far too long, but Bill never gave up on me. He kept circling back, encouraging me—without pressure—to keep an eye on the health of my business. He’s always looking out for me, not just as a business owner, but as a person.
What I value most is how real he is. Bill is honest, humble, and kind. He tells the truth, celebrates my progress, and genuinely wants to see me succeed. Even now, more than a decade later, he continues to be a trusted advisor and a voice I always listen to."
"Go to SCORE. Don’t try to build your business alone when there’s a network of experienced mentors ready to guide you.
Document your thoughts and ideas along the way—keep a written record of your growth, your questions, your progress. It will remind you how far you’ve come and help you stay grounded in your vision.
Embrace challenges. Don’t be daunted by them. The greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory. Every obstacle is a chance to learn, grow, and refine your purpose. (All those motivational posters are actually correct!)
This is how we Up the Bar—by staying curious, committed, and focused on doing meaningful work that makes a difference."
"With SCORE’s support, I built a very successful company from the ground up. What began as an independent consulting venture has grown into a highly respected professional development firm with a team of five exceptional former educators currently serving over 30 school districts across the state of New Jersey. The team is comprised of passionate, talented professionals who left full-time roles to join this mission—and who now enjoy the mastery, autonomy, purpose, and healthy work-life balance that Up the Bar provides.
Our success isn’t just about growth—it’s about being deeply impactful. We’ve built a strong reputation for helping school districts make systemic shifts that lead to greater equity for multilingual learners. District leaders turn to us not only for training, but for strategic guidance on how to transform their schools from the inside out. And it all started with the steady, supportive guidance I received from SCORE."
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