General Institutional Preconditions

All Dominican faculty members who regularly teach courses related to instructional methods in any of Dominican's credential programs actively participate in public elementary or secondary schools. For example:

1. Dr. Rebecca Birch actively participates in schools for student teacher supervision and to developing school/University relationships.

2. Kathleen Ferrando serves as a University Supervisor for Education Studies and Multiple Subject Student Teachers in Marin, San Francisco and Sonoma Counties, and currently serves as co-chair of the University Supervisor’s Meetings. Kathleen taught a variety of classes as an Adjunct and Visiting Professor. 

3. Whitney Hoyt actively participates in schools for student teacher supervision. 

4. Dr. Katherine Lewis supervises student teachers in the Multiple Subject program, maintains relationships with local elementary schools, and invites guest speakers (including principals, teachers, and Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) personnel) for Dominican's Education seminars. She also works with MCOE to facilitate the Education Career Academy for high school students interested in becoming teachers.

5. Dr. Rosemarie Michaels is the Director of the Lesson Study Program in both the Education Studies and Multiple Subject programs. She leads lesson studies at numerous school sites each semester and trains faculty to do the same. Rosemarie is also the primary consultant and leadership team member for "Marin’s Next Generation Collaborative for Science & Math." This is a collaboration between Marin County Office of Education, Dominican University of California’s Education Studies & Multiple Subject Teacher Preparation Programs, College of Marin, and Exploratorium’s Institute for Inquiry. 

6. Leslie Smith teaches the Teaching Math course and serves as a Resident Mentor and supervisor for student teachers in the Multiple Subject program. 

7. Renee Stender teaches the Teaching Reading course in San Rafael. She served as a full-time elementary teacher for many years and is currently an Intervention Specialist at Manor Elementary, where she works with struggling readers. In addition, she serves as a mentor for beginning teachers with the Marin County BTSA Program. 

8. Rebecca Stewart MA, is an Adjunct Professor in the Education Department of Dominican University of California.  She has taught English Language Development, Teaching English Learners, Professional Development Seminar, Pedagogical Preparation II and Pedagogical Preparation III in the Teacher Credentialing Program and has supervised student teachers in both the Multiple Subject and the Single Subject Teaching Credentialing Programs.  She has over 20 years of teaching experience in the public schools in San Rafael, California at the Elementary level and three years of experience at the Secondary level in Hinsdale, Illinois.  For four years, she was the director of the federally funded family literacy program called Even Start associated with Bahia Vista Elementary School in San Rafael, California.

9. Dr. Elizabeth Truesdell facilitates advisory board meetings with area educators and administrators, and maintains relationships with area secondary schools for student teacher and intern field placements. Dr. Truesdell invites educational leaders, Induction providers, and teachers to guest speak in courses. She also conducts Instructional Rounds with local schools, and internationally with the University of Teacher Education, Northwestern Switzerland.

10. Dr. Zoee Bartholomew serves as Special Education Program Director and Assistant Professor. She teaches all 5 foundational courses for Education Specialists Candidates to complete their credential program. Her courses are designed to incorporate the Universal Design for Learning Guiding Principles along with integrating Mindfulness techniques. Students describe her as an “Ally & Advocate” for helping them to succeed through their program. Dr. Bartholomew has an extensive educational background and private practice that includes supporting families navigating through the special education process. Finally, she participates actively within her local community and state with various legislative initiatives supporting inclusion for all. 

11. Nancy Wasserman  As a university supervisor since 2012 for Multiple Subject Credential seeking students, Nancy spends at least 15 weeks observing the student teacher in the classroom. She interacts regularly with their on-site directing teacher and administrator, bringing her 29 years of experience teaching grades 1 through 6 to this role. Nancy also has experience in Middle and Elementary School Administration, working for 6 years in various roles, which helps her in ensuring every TPE is observed and examined as well as classroom management, teaching content, learning styles, and individual student needs are met. 

12. Dr. Janet Erickson  For eight years, Dr. Erickson has supported teacher preparation candidates as a supervisor of their observation and student teaching requirements.  In this capacity, she assists them in lesson plan development and implementation, provides resources and guidance in the areas of the implementation of evidence-based curriculum in a variety of subject areas such as but not limited to English Language Arts, Math, and English Language development, provision of instructional strategies including specific intervention strategies, accommodations, universal design, and positive classroom management. For the past six years, Dr. Erickson has also served on the Sonoma Valley Unified School District’s Curriculum Advisory Committee reviewing and recommending District curriculum in a wide range of subject areas kindergarten through twelfth grade; four years,  on the Local Control Accountability Plan (now District Advisory) Committee developing and monitoring our plan focused on improving achievement for students from low socio-economic families, English Learners, and those with IEPS; three years on the Special Education Advisory Committee providing input and recommendations to District administration.

13. Elizabeth Dennis-Onesto For the last 6 years, Elizabeth has worked with teacher candidates during their student teaching semesters observing, mentoring, and evaluating them in their respective public school field placement. Elizabeth provides her assessments for Directing Teachers on site, discussing Dominican's requirements,  as well as mid-semester Progress Monitoring conferences, and the final teaching evaluation. Her assessments consist of a Taskstream lesson plans prior to visits, completing observations in the classroom, and a post conferences with the student teacher and the directing teacher reviewing the strengths of the lesson and recommendations for improvement.