OBJECTIVE
To engage schools in developing strong teacher leaders and enhancing positive school climate for the educational benefit of all children.
EXPERIENCE
Faculty - Graduate School of Education - Walden University, 2004 - Present
Minneapolis, MN
Teach Master of Science in Education students Strategies for Literacy Instruction, Habits of Mind, Theory of Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles, Collaborative Action Research, and the Teacher as Professional. I engage and challenge scholar-practitioners to apply learning style and multiple intelligence theories and literacy strategies to their Pre-K through 8 classrooms in the public and private school systems around the United States, and internationally.
Wisconsin REACH Grant, 2006
Wrote successful $150,000 proposal for funding literacy and math development for nine school districts in Wisconsin. Continue to provide professional development workshops for PK-12 teachers in comprehension and vocabulary strategies. A key focus of my work is to utilize Response to Intervention (RTI) and progress monitoring for a formative evaluation which drives instruction. For the Wisconsin REACH grant, I conducted research and reported my results to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Wisconsin READS Grant, 2005
Wrote a funded $30,000 grant and began presenting professional development workshops to educators in five school districts in northwestern Wisconsin - Bayfield, Glidden, Northwood, Park Falls and Superior- as part of the 2005-2006 Wisconsin READS grant.
Reading Specialist and Curriculum Consultant, 1998 - 2004
Washburn School District, Washburn, Wl
Directed the organization, management, and assessment of Washburn School District's Pre-K through 12 Literacy program. Worked collaboratively with teachers to develop and implement effective classroom teaching strategies, with emphasis on the Four Blocks Reading and Language Arts model. Interacted with pre-K through 12th grade students in an instructional capacity in a variety of settings which included developmental, remedial, content area, and enrichment activities. Staff development coordinator focusing on creating educational programming. Aligned our school district's curriculum with state standards through inservicing teachers on standards and benchmarks, and organizing and facilitating curriculum committees for all disciplines Pre-K through 12th grade.
Summer Faculty, 1999 - 2001
University of Wisconsin - Superior
Taught Four Blocks Reading and Language Model and Balanced Literacy and Assessment at the graduate level for Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative (WASDI) The Gitche Gumee Academy on Lake Superior was created to provide a week of in-depth training in Wisconsin Academic Standards, performance assessment, and content area knowledge incorporating the research-based model of staff development created through the CRAY Academy. Taught week long graduate seminar on Literacy Strategies and Instruction to Superior School District educators.
Adjunct Reading Faculty, 1996 - 1997
Buena Vista University, Marshalltown, IA
Taught Analysis and Correction of Reading to undergraduate teacher candidates.
Consultant for Professional Development, 1996 - 1998
Area Education Agency 6 - Marshalltown, Iowa
Developed curriculum-based assessment training materials, in a team environment, and presented program to area schools for staff development.
Reading Specialist and G/T Coordinator, 1993 - 1995
Denmark School District, Denmark, Wl
Designed programs of reading instruction based upon sound educational practice and recent research. Consulted, modeled, and team taught effective reading strategies to classroom teachers to promote literacy. Coordinated delivery of district resources for gifted students. Organized Odyssey of the Mind competition.
Cardinal Stritch Summer Reading Clinic, 1993
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Conducted reading clinic for at-risk students from the Milwaukee School District utilizing the Four Blocks Lieracy Model.
Elementary Teacher, 1989 - 1992
Hurley School District, Hurley, Wl
Taught First Grade and Special Education utilizing whole language and cooperative learning, with strong affective and interpersonal components. Provided a successful inclusion experience and individualized instruction for children ranging from profoundly challenged to gifted. Expanded problem-solving skills in children with Reading, Language, and Math disabilities in K-6 Exceptional Educational Needs program.
Early Childhood At Risk, 1988 -1989
Gogebic County Head Start, Wakefield, Ml
Taught four year old At-Risk program.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
WSPA Summer Institute - Response To Intervention - 2006
Participated in two-day intensive workshop with Dr. Michelle Shinn, in Response to Intervention (RtI) training, the process of providing high quality instruction, frequent assessment, and informed decision-making within a multi-tiered framework. Advanced my ability to promote prevention and early intervention efforts to enhance students ability to achieve high educational goals.
South Shore School District - 2005 - 2006
Provided training for teachers in best practices for Reading and Language Arts education. Series of day-long sessions during the 2005-2006 academic year focusing on developing research based literacy instruction.
School District of Washburn - 1998-2004
During my six year tenure as District Reading Specialist and Staff Development Coordinator, I organized and led my colleagues in curriculum teams to completely reconstruct the Washburn School District curriculum, and aligned the new curriculum to Wisconsin DPI standards. In 1998 - 1999 we rewrote the Reading curriculum. In 1999 - 2000 we revamped the Math curriculum. During 2000 - 2001, I led my colleagues in creating a new Science program Pre-K through 12th grade. In 2001-2002 we rewrote and developed a new Social Studies curriculum.
During these six years, I developed and conducted numerous inservices for my colleagues in Reading and Writing strategies.
School District of Bayfield - 4 Blocks Reading and Language Arts Workshop- 2003
Provided training for twenty teachers in providing reading and language arts instruction
School District of Superior - Balanced Literacy - 2002
Led three day training for thirty teachers in providing literacy strategies across disciplines - offered for graduate credit through UW-Superior
Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative (WASDI) - Gitche Gumee Academy - 2001
Conducted weeklong workshop for twenty teachers on standards based assessment - offered for graduate credit through UW-Superior
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Standards training - 2001
Instructed forty Drummond School District staff - Four half-day inservice sessions
Taught K-12 Reading and Language Arts teachers writing strategies.
Wisconsin Academy Staff Development Initiative (WASDI) - Gitche Gumee Academy - 2000
Weeklong workshop for twenty educators teaching implementation of the 4 Blocks Reading and Language Arts program - offered for graduate credit through UW-Superior
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Standards training for sixty Washburn School District staff - Five half-day inservice sessions - 1999
Consultant for Professional Development for Area Education Agency 6 in Marshalltown, Iowa - 1996-98
Developed curriculum-based assessment training materials, in a team environment, and brought the new program to area schools and taught curriculum based assessment to central Iowa K-12 teachers for staff development.
Analysis and Correction of Reading - Buena Vista University in Marshalltown, Iowa - 1996-97
Taught Analysis and Correction of Reading to undergraduate teacher candidates.
Denmark School District, Wisconsin - 1993-95
Led educators in development of effective reading and language arts strategies - modeled these strategies for teachers in the classrooms.
EDUCATION
Post-Masters Education
Walden University Ed.D in Teacher Leadership program - Full-time doctoral candidate - 2006 - Present
Integrating the Internet into the K-12 Curriculum - 3 semester credits - 2003
Assessment to Improve Student Learning - 3 semester credits - 2000
Standards Based Assessment - 1 semester credit - 2000
Helping Students Become Self-Directed Learners - 3 semester credits - 1999
Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, Wl
M.A., Reading/Language Arts, 1994
GPA: 3.9, Major GPA: 3.9
University of Wl - Superior, Superior, Wl
B.S., Elementary Education, Minor: Communication, 1988
GPA: 3.7, Major GPA: 3.7
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Pat Brickner Research Award - Wisconsin State Reading Association - 1995
Teacher of the Year - Hurley School District - 1990
PUBLISHED WORK
"Whose Nose, Whose Toes"- Children's Literature - Concordia Publishing Company - Kansas City , MO - 2000
"Children's Instructional Cards " - Word Action Publishing Company - St. Louis, MO - 2001
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION
International Reading Association member since 1992
Wisconsin State Reading Association member since 1989
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development member since 1998
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators member since 1998
