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Dr. Jenny Talburt, Learning Specialist
Dr. Jenny Talburt, Learning Specialist
by Alicia Moore
Jenny Talburt builds capacity in all by bringing positivity, dedication, and expertise to her role as a learning specialist. She served as a teacher for 15 years in Springfield Public Schools prior to joining the Department of Learning Development, teaching 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades at Sequiota and Pershing Elementary, as well as 6-8th grades as a reading specialist at Pipkin Middle School. She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in Special Reading from Drury University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction from Evangel University.
All of the support offered by learning specialists is grounded in the mission, vision, and goals of the schools they serve. Cindy Webster, principal at Weaver Elementary, shares that Jenny personalizes the School Action Plan by “taking the goal or action step and creating relevant, reflective, and targeted professional learning for teachers.”
As educators, we are constantly learning and expanding our own skill set. Jenny works hard to support teachers of all experience levels. “Observing students and offering ideas for support, helping with various Canvas issues/questions, guiding our instruction through the Missouri Learning Standards, and serving as a valuable resource when we deployed our RTI program last year” were a few of the ways that Jenny has supported Krista Payne and other Disney teachers. In the past several months, much of the support offered by learning specialists has been directed toward supporting hybrid and virtual instruction. Samantha Kelly, a 2nd grade teacher at Weaver, was able to navigate this changing dynamic successfully, and she expresses gratitude to Jenny for the supportive role she has played: “I have never been taught by someone who makes me feel so very capable and brave to try something new and scary.”
Those who work with Jenny appreciate the way she combines an optimistic attitude with instructional expertise. STEP UP teacher Mackenzie Maggard says, “When I was dealing with tough students, she was a sounding board for any ideas I considered, as well as a generator of other options. She knew what issues I was facing in my classroom, but always ensured our meetings were positive and productive.” Mackenzie’s concluding words perfectly sum up the purpose of learning specialists in our system: “Throughout the time I have known Jenny, she has poured into me so that I am able to pour into my students.”
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