My Training

August 2024 - May 2025 - I attended Neumann University virtually to acquire my Letter of Endorsement for Instructional Coaching.  During this program, I studied the leaders of coaching - Jim Knight, Elena Aguilar, and Diane Sweeney,   I practiced various methods of coaching and find myself attuned to Jim Knight's Impact Cycle as well as Aguilar's methods of how best to  attune to the adult learner; however, Sweeney's emphasis on student learning is the end goal.   Rowell, Andre, and Steinmann's book, Evolving Learner, also impacted my coaching style with reference to learning from students, adults, and the world.  I have also grown from experiencing George Couros' The Innovator's Mindset  and John Spencer's Launch, which I presented as a book study PLC.   In addition, through my classes, I gained a mentor in Alissa Crabtree of Crabtree Coaching Collaborative.  Through her guidance, I have learned more practical approaches to maintaining data and the true ins and outs of coaching rather than theory about it.  Jim Knight's resources are also incredibly valuable to me in the practicality of coaching.   What will serve me best is my experience of 34 years as a public school teacher; although never officially titled as a coach, a rarity in Western PA, I have worked as one throughout my career in various areas.

I taught ELA  to parochial and public school students for 34 years.  Much of that time was cultivating a methodology to instruct composition while integrating grammar and vocabulary.  I guided students through process writing as well as prepping for the writing on the PA state testing.

A believer in creative writing and authentic writing experience - and a writer myself - , I have taught several exploratory classes on poetry, short stories, and playwriting.   My class always had numerous opportunities for creative writing through the entry of writing contests.  Over the years, I cultivated a large list of contests in a variety of genre.  The president of WPCTE also prioritized creative writing; together, we provided professional development at several conferences about the need to celebrate student writing through community involvement and writing contests.  I also trained with City Theatre in Pittsburgh in their program to develop playwriting skills with students.  This brought specialized teaching artists into my classroom where I learned alongside my students.

I chose to spend a summer studying composition and was selected to attend the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project (WPWP) Summer Institute for Teachers where a fellow colleague and I intensified our grammar study and developed our vision of writing workshop.  We completed the five week program thus becoming  Teacher-Consultants of the WPWP.  This colleague and I then provided professional development to elementary teachers on modes of writing as well as mentor sentences.  

As an ELA teacher for 34 years, I have researched and trained to provide my students with engaging and pedagogically sound instruction.  Since reading and writing need connection, I have taken activities in my classroom and provided professional development on topics such as reading workshop and literature circles.

I attended the Belfer Conference for educators concerning Holocaust literature so as to better instruct my students concerning this time period in literature.

Technology has always been an interest of mine; the technology coordinator in the district where I taught often sought me to ry out new systems.  I used Google Classroom long before Covid; thus, I was able to mentor other educators in my building to navigate the transition to online learning during the pandemic.  I am constantly seeking new technology applications and modifying how that technology can be used to benefit students in the classroom.

I have completed Level One Google Certification.

I have acquired badges in nearpod, quizziz, quizlet, pear deck, and kami.

"The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice."

— Brian Herbert

I always loved school, and that is because I love learning.  Teachers need to keep learning if they are are to stay abreast of research and keep up with their students in modern times.  So, I continually learn.  

I follow numerous coaching and teaching blogs and podcasts.

I attend numerous conferences per year, lead sessions, and learn from as many contemporaries as possible.

I, along with my WPCTE officers, run a conference annually.

I read - a lot!

I am the Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English (WPCTE).  The former director passed away while in office, so my team and I have learned through our experiences in our positions.  As the Executive Director, I  along with my Executive Board, preside over meetings, lead online sessions for educators, run book clubs, and provide training for our members.

WPCTE conducts an annual conference for Western PA ELA educators.  Not only do I gain knowledge from the keynotes and sessions, but WPCTE provides these learning opportunities to teachers from Western PA.

WPCTE benefits students.  Annually, we hold a Flash Fiction contest in the fall and a large reading competition, English Festival, in the spring.  My team and I have had to learn how to run these programs.  We gain more experience annually learning much from feedback from both students and educators.