Meet Program Staff

Associate Lecturer, started teaching for the Early Childhood Education program in 2013. He is currently teaching CURRINS 512: Reflective Practice in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning. He works as a dissertator for the Urban Education Doctoral Program specialization in Curriculum and Instruction. Jesús is also a high school bilingual mathematics teacher at Casimir Pulaski High School in Milwaukee Public Schools.

Field Supervisor and Instructor for the CURRINS 440 Course-Field Experience in the Primary Grades. She has been with the UW-Milwaukee ECE Program since 2014. Prior to coming to UWM, Susan taught in the Milwaukee Public Schools for 37 years, teaching Grades 1, 2, and 3, in addition to being an in house school mentor to new educators.

Early Childhood Education Program Chair, teaches Literacy and Biliteracy in the Early Childhood Classroom (CURRINS 502) and the Early Childhood Seminar in Student Teaching (CURRINS 601). She also teaches and advises in the master's and doctoral programs. Dr. Evans joined the UW-Milwaukee ECE program in 2013. Prior to coming to UWM, Leanne was a reading specialist in the Spanish/English dual language program in the Racine Unified School District.

Early Childhood Education Instructor, teaches Instructional Strategies in Early Childhood Education (CURRINS 534). She joined the UW-Milwaukee ECE program in 2013. Prior to coming to UWM as an instructor, Nicole attended the ECE program for her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She was also a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools.

Visiting Assistant Professor, Jean Hoffmann has 20 years of professional practice teaching young children and teaches courses in Early Childhood Education. She worked as a Kindergarten teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools, a Child Development Specialist for Milwaukee Area Technical College and recently as a lecturer of Early Childhood with University of Wisconsin Whitewater.

Instructor and Field Supervisor for CURRINS 240: Field Experience with Dual Language Learners. This is her 3rd year at UWM. In the past she has served as a field supervisor and instructor for CURRINS 504: Methods for Biliteracy and Language Arts in Primary Grades. Prior to UWM, she taught dual language in Highwood, IL, as well as at an elementary school on the Texas-Mexico border. She has taught intro Spanish to kids K4-3rd grade, 4th and 5th grades, juniors and seniors in high school, and now college! She is excited to work with pre-service teachers as they learn how to best serve and support English Language Learners!

Instructor for CURRINS 501: Language Acquisition for Children of Diverse Backgrounds

Early Childhood Education Supervisor, has been teaching courses and supervising student teachers since 2006. Prior to coming to UWM, James was a teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools for 34 years.

Early Childhood Education Program Director, Anita is a proud graduate of the Early Childhood Program and has been with the program for the last 9 years. Anita is the Program Director, Student Teaching Coordinator, and Instructor of CURRINS 302 and 340

Instructor, teaches Developing Mathematical Thinking. Joined the UW-Milwaukee staff in 2021. She currently is an Elementary Math Specialist in the Mequon-Thiensville School District. Prior to being a math specialist, Michelle was a classroom teacher for 20 years and has taught grades 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Adjunct Lecturer, teaches Field experience with Families and Communities (CURRINS 140). She has been an adjunct lecturer for the School of Education for 11 years.

Instructor for CURRINS 511: Teaching of Social Emotional Learning. Carrie has been an instructor for the university for 5 years and has taught in MPS for 19 years. Early Childhood Education is her passion. Teaching future teachers about students' emotional needs and ways to create trauma-sensitive classrooms has been an awesome way to share that passion. She loves to share her classroom experiences with future teachers so that they can learn from her greatest triumphs as well as from her mistakes! Teaching is a rollercoaster and Carrie is excited for her students to ride alongside her!

ECE Student Teacher Supervisor and ECE Supervisor Liaison. Pat began at UWM in 2009 and has worked with CURRINS 640, CURRINS 540, CURRINS 440, and CURRINS 340 field and student teachers. She has been in the Early Childhood field since 1979 in various capacities. Pat is the founding teacher/assistant director for the Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool and the ECE component of Milestones Programs for Children.

Adjunct Instructor, teaches Teaching of Social Studies (CURRINS 323) and serves as a Student Teacher Supervisor. She joined the UW-Milwaukee ECE program in 2013. Prior to coming to UWM, JoAnne was an elementary educator at the University School of Milwaukee and at Trowbridge Elementary School in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

azarian@uwm.edu

Academic Advisor (last names A - L ) for the Early Childhood Education Program. Andrea has been a School of Education advisor at UWM for 15 years. Before that, she taught middle school in MPS. She practices tough love, but know that all she wants for you is to succeed at this thing called college!

Academic Advisor (last names M – Z) for the Early Childhood Education Program. Nicole (Nikki) Claas has been an Academic Advisor since 2013. In addition to the ECE program, Nikki also advises for several other programs in the School of Education. Nikki's background is in college student development, and she enjoys assisting students towards reaching their academic and professional goals. Prior to coming to UWM, Nikki worked in residence life and student leadership development.