Melanie Matthews is a life-long educator with 25 years of experience in education. She's a published author of two books, Inside Instructional Coaching and The FORMula: 101 Must-Have Forms for Instructional Coaches, in addition to being a national trainer, consultant, instructional coach, and speaker. She loves improving coach's instructional and leadership capacities through professional development, workshops, and webinars.
Melanie works with schools, districts, and organizations nationwide, serving as a thought partner and leader in improving the quality of classroom instruction. She founded Literacy at Work, LLC (L@W) in 2008 after recognizing a critical need for quality literacy instruction in elementary school. She has since expanded L@W to include training and development for schools and organizational leaders. Her experience coupled with her passion for teaching adult learners around literacy and best coaching practices is why she loves to help educators master the art and craft of coaching. Melanie “cultivates the minds that cultivate the minds”. |
Cassandra Williams is a strong advocate for revolutionizing systems. Before launching Educational Innovation 360°, she spent over 20 years in the education field. Cassandra received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University and moved to California State University for Master’s. She began her career in K-12 education teaching elementary school, then eventually providing professional development to teachers and administrators in Los Angeles. In Indianapolis, she’s opened two elementary schools that have since become models for success in their districts.
Cassandra currently works as a professor in the College of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Her research focuses on coaching teachers to accelerate student achievement. She and her team often explore video as a learning tool for success in the classroom. She is the chief designer for the Educational Innovation 360° eInstructional Coaching System. |
"The Complete EdTech Coach: An Organic Approach to Supporting Digital Learning"
Authors "Organic EdTech Coaching:
Support Digital Learning" |
About this Session
In the midst of school closures, reopenings, and everything in between, digital learning has become a necessity for all educators. As coaches, how can we support but not overwhelm those we serve in regards to educational technology (edtech). Leave this session with an organic philosophy for edtech coaching, solid pedagogical context, tools for network building, and logistics for the job. Organic edtech coaching emerges naturally when coaches intentionally spend the time to observe teaching and learning in its natural habitat. In this session, learn how to personalize tech integration for the educators you work with, in a way that empowers and validates them as educators. Learn to guide teachers in designing learning experiences through the lens of the 4 Cs. When you lead the 4 Cs, the tech takes care of itself. We lead with learning, never with tech. Technology moves more quickly than we can keep up with. Build your capacity to leverage networks of experts in edtech. Learn go-to edtech social media gurus who are eager to share their knowledge with you. What does this look like in practice? Learn as we share our experiences of how we navigate edtech coaching on a daily basis. Leave this session with strategies for being a walking coach, connecting with tech-hesitant teachers, building your PLN, and designing an edtech coaching vehicle. About Adam & Katherine Adam Juarez and Katherine Goyette are active edtech coaches and co-authors of “The Complete EdTech Coach: An Organic Approach to Supporting Digital Learning”. They regularly facilitate professional learning across the nation and conduct in-class coaching in their districts. Adam and Katherine have published articles/blogs for ISTE, ACSA Leadership magazine, GoGuardian, and CUE. Prior to their roles as edtech coaches, Adam and Katherine were classroom teachers. Adam taught middle school and high school U.S. and World History, in addition to coaching both boys and girls soccer. Katherine is a former elementary classroom teacher and administrator. She began her educational career as a music teacher for infants through adults. Adam and Katherine are Google Certified Trainers/Innovators, Newsela Certified Educators, Apple Teachers, Microsoft Innovative Educators, mentors for the Google Certified Innovator program, CVCUE board members, and were finalists for the CUE LeRoy Finkel Fellowship. |
Cognitive Coaching and
Adaptive Schools Training Associate "Culturally Proficient Coaching: Using Values, Beliefs, and Assumptions to
Breakthrough Barriers" |
About this Session
Participants will have opportunities to reflect on ways for adapting to and valuing diversity. Culturally Proficient Coaching demonstrates the importance of consciousness as a resource for adapting to diverse and changing communities. The coach’s awareness and knowledge of how to adapt to the influence of various cultures enhances cross-cultural communication skills. When members of organizations institutionalize cultural knowledge they have reached a fundamental step toward systemic change and continuous improvement. This step addresses the oppressive nature of stereotypes, power, bias, and discrimination in schools and communities. Culturally Proficient coaches confront these barriers using Breakthrough Questions to shift thinking from stuck-ness to transformative action. About Delores Delores B. Lindsey, Ph.D., retired as Associate Professor of Education at California State University, San Marcos, CA, but did not retire from the education profession. As a former middle grades and high school teacher, assistant principal, principal, and county office of education administrator, her primary focus is developing culturally proficient leaders and coaches. She helps educational leaders examine their organizations’ policies and practices, and their individual beliefs and values about cross-cultural communication. Her favorite reflective question is: Are we who we say we are? She is a Training Associate for Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools. Delores continues to write and consult about the application of the four Tools of Cultural Proficiency. Her publications include Culturally Proficient Coaching: Supporting educators to create equitable schools, 2nd ed. (2019) and Leading while female: A Culturally proficient response for gender equity, 2020. |
Teacher/Instructional Coach
"The Importance of Self-Care for Teachers and Social Emotional Coaching"
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About This Session In this session, the discussion will center on how to 1) assist your coachee in creating and maintaining a self-care plan, 2) teach the importance of self-care and 3) build a trusting relationship with your coachee. There will be specific directives and plans shared on how to accomplish these goals within your coaching partnership. At the end of this session, coaches will be able to implement a self-care plan with the teachers they coach and build trusting relationships that will make the coaching partnership purposeful, intentional, and effective. About Chelnor Chelnor Griffin is a native of Tifton, GA but currently resides in Albany, GA with her amazing husband, two awesome sons, and a feisty dog named Jack. Educating children has been her passion for the last 19 years at the elementary school level. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, a Master's Degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Reading and Literacy, and an Education Specialist degree in Higher Education and Adult Learning. Mrs. Griffin absolutely loves any and all things literacy related. She is currently a 2nd grade co-teacher, instructional coach, and owns an educational consulting and tutoring business. She has served on her local school district's ELA team as a lead teacher, worked on curriculum planning teams, and has conducted professional learning workshops. |
Teaching to Transform, LLC
Owner/Consultant "Guiding Teachers with Student-centered Writing Instruction"
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About The Session Coaches will gain important information on the vital understandings teachers need in implementing student-centered writing instruction including; explicit skill teaching, knowledge of students' ability levels, management of independent writing, and more. Coaches will hear about the common difficulties teachers have when transitioning to student-centered writing instruction (workshop model) such as; letting go of teacher control in the writing process and incorporating more student engagement and discourse, as well as ways to coach through them. Coaches will walk away with not only an understanding of what is needed for teachers to be effective in teaching writing, but with coaching strategies for supporting their teachers through the process. About Melissa Melissa is a passionate literacy consultant with a love of all things literacy! She works with schools and teachers, virtually and in-person, to provide literacy program consultation and professional development through workshops and instructional coaching. Her favorite thing to teach and coach is writing instruction, and is always so thrilled to see teachers and students flourishing in the writing classroom! Ever since having a literacy coach as a teacher herself, she dreamed of being that support person for teachers, cheering them on and helping them to feel confident and effective. After teaching elementary school for 10 years, Melissa began her journey as a literacy consultant in 2017 and has worked with several schools and teachers to invigorate their literacy program and support teachers as they grow their capacity as educators. When she is not coaching, or reading about coaching and literacy, Melissa loves to enjoy time with her family, watching her daughter dance, play soccer and run track, and her son play soccer, baseball and basketball, and enjoying movies with her hubby. Her all time favorite play is the beach, where she hopes to have a house someday! |
Instructional Technology Coach
"Recharge and Reconnect"
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About The Session
Teachers and school leaders understand the transformational possibilities that integrating technology can foster. Schools have spent fortunes purchasing digital products and programs to enhance teaching and learning. Yet, the ways in which some educators utilize these technologies are, on the whole, underwhelming. Chromebooks and iPads are sporadic replacements for paper and pencil tasks. While the SMART boards are often used to simple projector material. That's where technology coaches come in. Even if you are not a technology coach there are tips and tricks in which you can embed and model tech integration in a way that teachers are eager to try new tools and adopts new practices not only to meet a requirement, streamline some of the more mundane tasks but most importantly to ensure equity and access for all learners. About Italy Italy Wallace is an Instructional Technology Coach for a public School District in the Northern Chicagoland area. Italy has a B.A. in Elementary Education, M.A. in school Leadership and is finishing up her ESL endorsement. In her 15 year career as an educator she has served students of various backgrounds and diverse learning needs. Her passion is in equitable edtech where digital tools are strategically deployed to help close the learning gap for historically underserved and underprivileged students. As a coach Italy works to inspire and empower educators to reimagine the tech infused classroom by providing engaging learning opportunities through job-embedded PD and personalized coaching sessions. The ultimate goal is for teachers to take ownership while confidently navigating the digital ecosystem. |
Linda Rhyne Consulting, LLC
Owner "The Coach’s Role in a
Professional Learning Cycle" |
About The Session
Deming’s continuous improvement cycle: Plan-Do-Check-Act guides much of our professional learning cycles as educators. But what is the instructional coach’s role when teachers are in this cycle? How does a coaching stance differ in its tandem design? In this session, we will explore the parallel stance a coach takes when teachers are in a PDCA cycle and how to teach, support, reflect and advise to impact professional learning outcomes. A key takeaway will be how to use these stances to create a safe and supportive learning environment while also holding teachers accountable for implementing professional learning. Because our society expects teachers to be near-perfect and often teachers expect that of themselves, they miss out on the follow-through and safe practice needed to implement professional learning. Rather than try and fail, they fall back on habits and processes that they feel confident about. Implementing this coaching cycle removes the pressure of being perfect and instead supports safe practice with support. Participants will leave this work session with a coaching cycle plan that is applicable to any professional learning outcome. Video explanation: https://bit.ly/3tivaYi About Linda Linda Rhyne is the owner of Linda Rhyne Consulting, a company focused on helping teachers and leaders connect research to practice in a safe & supportive environment. Linda is an award-winning and National Board Certified educator with 15 years of experience in education with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, one of the nation's 20 largest urban school districts located in Charlotte, NC. She served in multiple positions in CMS: classroom teacher, literacy facilitator, new teacher support coordinator, and Southeast Learning Community coordinator, with 10 years of experience as an instructional coach. In her free time, you can find her playing with her two boys, reading, and working out. |
Erica Harrell Consulting
Founder & CEO "Aligning Professional Development
with Coaching" |
About The Session
In this session coaches will learn to align their coaching to school-wide and district-wide professional development goals through the use of coaching walkthroughs. Each coach will learn to be extremely strategic about how their coaching supports teachers to achieve growth against their school’s professional development goals. This session will lead coaches to set intentions for walkthroughs so that they are looking for teacher and student actions, knowledge and skills related PD goals, what to do during walkthroughs to support teachers and how to plan and respond after the walkthrough. Coaches will leave the session with a clear walkthrough plan based on their school's professional development goals. Each step of the walkthrough planning will provide considerations for virtual learning. About Erica Erica Harrell is the CEO of Erica Harrell Consulting, an education consulting firm created to help dedicated educators create strategic professional development plans to increase student achievement and improve staff capacity. Erica has over 12 years of experience in education. She began her career as a special education teacher and has held multiple leadership roles from instructional coach to principal to Director of Leadership Development. In all of her roles, Erica has always had the desire to grow and help others do the same. As a school leader, Erica has led teams to develop strategic and comprehensive project plans for multi-day and multi-week professional development series and coached leaders to ensure high-quality session facilitation. Erica holds a MEd in Instructional Leadership from Relay Graduate School of Education. Erica currently lives in Maryland with her husband and one year old son. |
Instructional Literacy Coach
"Utilizing Small Group Reading Strategies in the Middle Grades Setting"
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About the Session This session focuses on implementing elementary-type strategies in the middle grades setting to help middle school students grow with reading comprehension, fluency, and writing. It is important that students foster a love for reading through reading materials that interests them, work in a group setting in which all opinions and input are important, and they have an opportunity to see their progress in their groups. Middle school is the perfect time to foster small group literacy learning! About Nicka Mrs. Nicka Flint has been in education for over 11 years and has experience teaching middle and elementary school Language Arts, Reading and Social Studies. She has years of experience in providing professional development at the school and district levels, along with experience in serving as department chair, teacher mentor and now as an Instructional Coach. Her passion and dedication within this capacity encompasses a love for literacy, collaboration, communication, reflection, building capacity and respect. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from The University of Georgia, a Master of Arts in Teaching (Middle Grades Education) degree from Georgia State University and a Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University. She is married to her husband, D'Andre, and they share two children, Joseph and Kennedy. |
Oller Edu Company
Instructional Coach, Author "A Coach's Response"
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About the Session
Intentionality in coaching is crucial when providing relevant feedback to teachers regarding teaching practices. However, the term feedback is often seen as evaluative. Instead, let’s approach our conversations with teachers as offering a coach’s response. A response is a reaction. Responses show vitality, vibrancy, and expectation. Responses are about honesty and keeping the conversation going. A coach’s responds to the teaching and learning happening in the classroom. This session will delve into different kinds of coach responses and how to determine when and why to use each one. Participants will walk away with actionable steps to select and implement coaching responses in their practice. About Thania Thania J. Oller, Ed.D, is a vibrant and engaging educator, and the author of Coaching by Design, is a vibrant engaging educator. Her expertise in education and instructional coaching derives from over twenty years in the field working as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and instructional coach. She has experience working in diverse school environments, including Title One schools, and ten years in the virtual school environment. She has been facilitating professional development for educators for the past ten years at the local and state level. Dr. Oller holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, a Master’s Degree in school leadership, and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. She is certified in English as a Second Language, Spanish K-12, School Leadership, Elementary Education, English 6-12, and Reading/Literacy. Dr. Oller is an active instructional coach in Florida and has trained instructional coaches in other states. |
The Classroom, LLC
Founder & CEO "Inspiring Teachers; Developing Students"
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About the Session The presentation "Inspiring Teachers; Developing Students" purpose is to communicate how coaches can help increase student achievement, unlock hidden potential in teachers, and encourage teacher leaders to thrive. Coach Talisha will invite her participants to partake in a coaching cycle while learning and understanding how coaches inspire teachers and develop students. About Talisha Talisha Mathis is the Founder & CEO of The Classroom, LLC. Talisha began her career teaching middle school and then serving as an instructional coach. In 2019 she was a featured blogger for Black Teachers Educate. Talisha earned her BS from Georgia Southwestern University, M.Ed in Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix, and Ed.S in Educational Leadership from Georgia College & State University. Talisha's work and passion for teachers and students in urban schools are the driving forces of her work and commitment to teaching and learning. |
Class is in Session
Owner and Consultant "Coaching with Class: Transform the
Techie in YOU" |
About the Session
In our current learning environment, teachers and coaches have been tasked with making a huge shift in how instruction is delivered to students. In this session, we will explore some innovative ways to use technology in a virtual, hybrid, or face-to-face class. How can you maximize the use of your learning management system? What activities will keep students engaged in the learning? We will also take a look at how to use technology tools for our own professional learning and growth. This session is designed to be interactive with opportunities to discuss/share and begin building resources for your own personal toolkit. Whether you identify as a technology newbie or a technology expert, this session is designed to "transform the Techie in YOU"! About Stephanie Stephanie D. Jacobs is a veteran with over 20 years in education. Stephanie resides in beautiful Rock Hill, SC and is currently an Instructional Technology Coach. Her background includes teaching in grades PreK-5, as well as serving as an elementary school principal and adjunct Reading instructor. Stephanie has also been recognized as an SCASCD Emerging Leader for the past two years. She is passionate about education and shares her passion presenting at a variety of educational conferences. She is also a contributing author in the EduMatch Snapshot in Education series (2017 and 2020). |
K-8 Humanities Coach
"Coaching Towards Effective
Tier 1 Reading Interventions" |
About the Session
Teaching students to read is one of the most important tasks schools need to accomplish. This isn’t an easy feat as reading is a complex process. The goals of this presentation include equipping attendees with theoretical models of proficient reading, explaining the importance of screening and diagnostic assessments to identify and support students, and sharing resources for tier 1 interventions and progress monitoring. About Shelly Shelly Emann is a K-8 humanities coach in New Jersey. Before coaching, she spent nineteen years teaching in an elementary school. During her third year teaching, a student with dyslexia inspired her to go back to school to earn a certification as a dyslexia specialist. Shelly is steadfast in her work supporting teachers with literacy instruction, particularly in the area of foundational reading skills. |
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Contact Literacy at WorkLiteracy at Work, LLC
P.O. Box 2918 Southfield, MI 48037 Office: 248-702-4858 Email: melanie@literacyatwork.net Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed Weekends and Holidays |
About MelanieMelanie is an educator with over two decades of experience teaching students and training educators. She is a national trainer, consultant, instructional coach and speaker who love improving teachers' instructional capacity. During her journey, she has worked with schools, districts, and organizations serving as a thought partner and leader in improving the quality of instruction.
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About Literacy at WorkLiteracy at Work helps organizations to become literate or expand their literacy in educational leadership, instructional coaching, school improvement, and systematic change. We support this literacy through learning opportunities that include research-based and best practices, using the most current trends and innovations in education, and via site visits.
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