Welcome
Welcome to my professional learning sandbox. The purpose of my sandbox is to analyze educational research and its practical applications to schooling, leadership, and improving student outcomes: specifically as a tool to help general education teachers to become great teachers. Why? Students that are learning a new language or are on an IEP often spend more time with their general education teachers than with their specialists. In addition, we don’t have enough language acquisition teachers, and we don’t have enough SpEd teachers to meet all of the sheltered or co-teaching needs. Consequently, the information in this sandbox is designed to help general education teachers gain knowledge, find resources, locate tools, and discover activities to help improve academic outcomes for ELLs. The information contained in this sandbox is in a self-directed learning format. You will find that some research has broad applications and some has very narrow applications. Oftentimes, we know what we are currently doing isn’t working, and hopefully you will discover resources and information here that enables you to create leverage points that improve your effectiveness, your reliability, your leadership, and your students’ outcomes. Postings and discussions shouldn’t be viewed as endorsements or advocacy.
A Little About Me
My background is in school and instructional leadership that combines analytic and research skills with a broad-based understanding of systems anchored in principles of equity and access to address complex educational challenges in P-12 education- specifically grades 7-12. My coursework, research, and practice is focused on equity and diversity, leadership, learning theory and learners, adult learning, professional development and technology, and inquiry; as well as specific coursework in school executive leadership. Likewise, context-specific best practices, interdisciplinary connections, and applied research that stresses the application of theory to practice. I seek to effectively translate research into practice, influence policy, use data effectively in decision-making, and organize individuals and groups to address challenges collaboratively and successfully.
Licenses/Certifications Held
• Administrator K-12
• Principal K-12
• Special Education 5-21
• Social Studies Education 7-12
• Instructional Technology K-12
• Business Education and CTE Business Pathway 7-12
A Few of My Favorite Readings
Mind, Brain, and Education: Neuroscience Implications for the Classroom by David A. Sousa
Lost at School: Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them by Ross W. Greene
Be Different: My Adventures with Asperger’s and My Advice for Fellow Aspergians, Misfits, Families, and Teachers by John Elder Robison
Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work: New Insights for Improving School by Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, and Robert Eaker
Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation (Learning in Doing: Social, Cognitive and Computational Perspectives by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger
The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design by Urie Bronfenbrenner