STUDENT INTERVENTION COACHES

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

During the 2023-2024 school year, the WRDSB will have four intervention coaches working to support grade 9 students in developing essential math and reading knowledge and skills. Each coach will support two schools in a semester.

Math and reading student intervention coaches will work alongside teachers to co-plan and co-facilitate learning that takes a tiered approach that will include targeted instruction for small groups of students during class as well as withdrawal opportunities.

Math Student Intervention Coach (MSIC)

The goal of this program is to improve students’ mathematical knowledge and skills in order to build their confidence as math learners and to give students more access to, and success with, the MTH1W curriculum.

The interventions will focus on foundational knowledge and skills for expectations found in Strand B (Number) and Strand C (Algebra) from the MTH1W curriculum.

Reading Student Intervention Coach (RSIC)

The goal of this program is to increase access to curriculum and confidence for grade 9 students by leveling up their reading skills. Additionally this program aligns with the new ENL 1W curriculum which focuses on the foundational language and literacy knowledge and skills that students need to be successful.

The interventions will focus on the foundational understandings of skills including:

developing an understanding of and a vocabulary for how language works (syllables, phonemes, morphemes, parts of speech, syntax/grammar)
acquiring strategies for decoding and understanding big, multisyllabic words
improving phonemic awareness skills

THE STUDENT INTERVENTION COACH ROLE

The math student intervention coach (MSIC) and reading student intervention coach (RSIC) will be working with students and educators twice per week for the entire semester. During their time at the school they will

co-facilitate whole class activities using the small group model;
co- facilitate withdrawal support for identified students to further extend their knowledge and skills;
co-plan with classroom teacher;
engage in regular communication with classroom teacher and other relevant school staff (SERT, Administrator, etc.);
collect and interpret data;
be responsive to the needs of the students; and
create/provide materials for small group instruction.

HOW TO JOIN THE PROGRAM

Applications are taken prior to the beginning of a new semester.

The MSIC/RSIC Program Information and Application Process for 2023-24 can be found here:

MSIC/RSIC Program Overview and Application

MEET THE STUDENT INTERVENTION COACHES

Reading Coaches Wendy Farkas and Laura Shantz

Wendy Farkas is a secondary teacher who has been with the WRDSB since 2010. Throughout her career, Wendy has been passionate about developing student literacy skills and working with in risk students. Wendy facilitated a specialized program in the WRDSB for high school students with severe learning and reading disabilities. She also trained at a Demonstration school run by the Ministry of Education in Empower, a tier 3 reading intervention program. Here she was able to support struggling readers from across Ontario (and their families). Most recently, Wendy was the Head of Special Education at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School and has taken a leave for the 2023/ 24 school year to assume this new role. She is looking forward to helping students become better readers and sharing her excitement for this work with colleagues.

Laura Shantz is a secondary teacher who has been with the WRDSB since 2017. Passionate about supporting students to thrive through literacy, Laura became a Secondary Reading Coach in 2023. Before that she taught English, Science, ESL/ELD and was a Special Education teacher at Eastwood Collegiate with a specific focus on reading intervention. Laura started her career working with in-risk students in the TDSB followed by 10 years as a Gifted Education Consultant in Burnaby, BC. Laura is passionate about literacy, social justice and discovering creative, critical, and collaborative teaching practices that support all students to learn, grow and thrive. She is excited to continue to support students and collaborate with colleagues in this role.

Math Coaches Katrina van Lierop and Darcy Berry

Katrina van Lierop has been a secondary math teacher with the WRDSB since 2000. She took on the role of math intervention coach in February of 2023. Prior to this she taught a variety of mathematics courses at WODSS. Katrina has a passion for seeing students succeed and is excited to be able play a role in helping more students make gains in their numeracy skills.

Over her 12 years of teaching mathematics in the WRDSB system, Darcy Berry has used various collaborative learning activities to decentre the classroom and invite students into the process. Darcy believes that increased student questioning and reflecting can lead to independent problem-solving. She sees an investment in the whole child as essential to improving student confidence, and creating a safe and inclusive classroom where all students can thrive and feel like they belong.

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