Embedded Files
Dina & Nicole
Dina and Nicole started their professional journey at the ACTFL 2019 Conference in New Orleans. Together they created culturally responsive, exciting lessons that combine Dina's tenure experience and Nicole engaging, high interest practices. At the 2019 conference the focus of their presentation was social justice and together they shared innovative ideas for teaching social justice in the World Language classroom.
As Inspira Create Education, Dina and Nicole have worked with World Language Education, educational technology and culturally responsive teaching for over five years. Together they have been inspired to recreate their teaching methods and to collaborate with other professionals to design innovative student-centered curriculums that meet the changing needs of language educators and their students. Their participation in national and local conferences, in addition to their study abroad experiences and consistent networking have assisted in keeping them abreast of cutting-edge best practices and emerging trends. Their studies at their respective universities have also facilitated their grasp of newly approved state standards and the increasing need of delivering these standards in a manner that supports the diverse and social emotional cultural needs of students. Dina and Nicole have developed and applied a rich understanding of different cultures and methods to effectively prepare and support students and teachers when creating their company's mission. They are both leaders in their workplaces, having been awarded teacher of the month, NYS World Language leadership teacher of the year among other distinguished awards and accommodations. As Inspira Create Education, the pair have worked together to create culturally responsive, cutting edge professional development workshops to aid teachers on how to best reach their students and help them achieve academic success in the world language field and educational field at large both virtually and in person.
Dina & Nicole are currently the advisors of both the French and Spanish Honor Societies in Deer Park High School. In addition to their love for World Languages they are an integral part of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Learning Support Team Committee, Student of the Month Committee, Professional Learning Plan Committee, and Eligibility Committee. The foundation of their success lies in their passion for the Spanish language and their devotion to shaping the future of students and teachers.
As a team, they strive to uphold their mission of equity and excellence for all. They understand that by providing educators with the tools, resources and support they need, current shortcomings can be overcome. Furthermore, they believe educators can develop a plethora of research based tools and strategies to have success teaching through the attendance of effective professional development seminars.
Dina Pannone is an accomplished and proven bilingual educator with extensive experience and dedication to school programs, curriculum, teacher development, and teacher growth. The foundation of her success lies in her passion for the Spanish language and her devotion to shaping the future of students and teachers. Certified to teach K-12 Spanish, she has devoted over twenty years to the Deer Park School District in Long Island, New York.
Dina was also an adjunct professor at LIU Post where she taught Methods and Materials of Teaching World Languages in Secondary Schools to both graduate and undergraduate students. Her work with World Language Education students at Post has inspired her to recreate her teaching methods and to collaborate with other professionals to design innovative student-centered curriculums that meet the changing needs of language educators and their students. She is currently working toward her doctorate degree at Northcentral University with a focus on Diversity in Education and is the Associate Principal of Guidance and Support Services at Deer Park High School.
Nicole Bjarnason is an ambitious bilingual educator with experience and extensive dedication to school programs, curriculum and professional development.
The foundation of her passion for teaching lies in her extensive knowledge of the Spanish language and culture along her devotion to shaping the future of her students in a culturally responsive manner.
Certified to teach 7-12 Spanish, she has devoted five years teaching in different settings. Starting her journey co-teaching a Spanish 1 course at LIU, she taught entry college level Spanish with her professor.
Upon finishing her coursework for LIU, she completed her student teaching in the Deer Park School district where she developed her lesson plans and collaborated with colleagues to develop unit plans that are still used today.
She was then hired to teach in the Island Trees Union Free School District as a Spanish teacher for levels 7- 12 and served as advisor to the French and Spanish Honor Societies as well as advisor to the freshman, sophomore then junior class. After 4 years, Nicole was finally able to go back to teaching Spanish at Deer Park High School where her teaching journey began!
As of September, 2021, Nicole has become an integral part of the Deer Park community. She serves as Co-Advisor of the Spanish and French Honor societies with Dina Pannone. She is a member of several committees including Eligibility Committee, Student of the Month Committee, National Honor Society Committee, Learning Support Committee among others. She volunteers her lunch periods to co-teach an ENL exploratory seminar with the school librarian. She also home tutors students who are unable to attend classes after school and provides technical and curricular support to her colleagues on a regular basis.
Dina and Nicole are motivated educators and together enjoy honing their skills as language instructors. They are dedicated to developing their skills by attending yearly conferences such as ACTFL, LILT, NECTFL, NYSAFLT, and AATSP. Aside from spending time learning and networking at these conferences, Dina and Nicole have given back by presenting at ACTFL's 2019 conference on Teaching for Social Justice in the World Language Classroom, at NECTFL's 2022 conference on Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Classroom through a Cultural Lens and Differentiation in the World Language Classroom, and most recently at AATSP's, NYSAFLT's, and LILT's 2022 conferences on inspiring inclusivity and diversity through the Spanish Honor Society, Classroom Management for the World Language Classroom, Inclusive, Cultural teaching practices and the NYS new World Language standards, and How to Create a Digital Portfolio. Additionally, Inspira Create Education was recently published in ACTFL's the Language Educator, Summer 2022, Volume 17, Issue 3- Differentiation of Instruction: Engaging, Empowering, and Elevating Learners.
Page updated
Report abuse