Ted Purinton
Using Multiple Tests in Secondary Content Area Classrooms
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Ted works for Learning Point Associates in Naperville, IL. He is a former high school and middle school Language Arts teacher and school district curriculum administrator.

Colleen Rausch
Student Showcase: Culture, Language and Cognition in the Classroom
Grade Level: 9 to 12

Member of a panel that has completed two years of NUA training and implemented a school-wide staff development plan to imbed the NUA strategies across the school, Colleen Rausch teaches Comparative Anatomy and Enriched Biology.

Jackie Roehl
Student Showcase: Culture, Language and Cognition in the Classroom
Grade Level: 9 to 12

Part of a panel that has completed two years of NUA training and implemented a school-wide staff development plan to imbed the NUA strategies across the school. Jackie Roehl teaches Tenth Grade English and World Literature.

Sally S. Rothenberg
My Life Plan
Grade Level: 6 to 8

Sally Rotherenborg has a background in literacy and Special Education

Dr. Andrew Rothstein
Linking Mathematical and Verbal Intelligences
Grade Level: All

Andrew joined NUA in 2000. He attended Northwestern University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and New York University. He taught at the International School of Brussels and the United Nations International School. He has taught at several universities. He was a principal and co-authored Write-for-Mathematics.

Dr. Evelyn Rothstein
Merging Mathematical Intelligence With Linguistic Intelligence: A Powerful Partnership for Student Achievement
Grade Level: All

Evelyn has been an Educational Consultant specializing in teaching writing across the curriculum for the past twenty years. With a background in classroom teaching and a specialization in linguistics and language development, she has trained teachers and implemented her strategy-based Writing As Learning programs in hundreds of schools and school districts throughout the United States. Currently, she is a consultant for the National Urban Alliance.

In addition to giving workshops in writing, Evelyn has had the pleasure of providing training courses to teachers in a wide range of topics. Over the past five years Evelyn has offered courses such as Multicultural Issues for Teachers, The English Language As It Really Is, Geography for Teachers--Where You Are and Where You're Going, plus two film-centered courses: The Twentieth Century--Looking Back, Looking Ahead, and Culture through Comedy--Stereotypes and Realities.

Evelyn is a graduate of the City University of New York and Columbia University, with degrees in Education, Speech, Reading, and Psycholinguistics. She is the author of numerous books and articles, including Teaching Writing, Staying at the Top, Creative Writes and Easy Writer. In 1993, her play, The Occupation, was produced as an Equity Showcase in Manhattan. Her books include, Writing as Learning and Write for Mathematics, published by SkyLight Publish ring. She and her husband Andrew Rothstein are currently working on their next book, Grammar That Works.

Dr. Beth Russell
Using Cultural Expectations To Promote Success
Grade Level: All

Beth Russell, Ed.D. is principal of Anwatin Middle School in Minneapolis. She is a member of the district’s principal staff development committee. With Kise, she is coauthoring Creating a Climate for Classroom Change (Corwin, 2007). She holds a doctorate in education from the University of Minnesota.

Alex Salinas
Grounding Math, Language, and Art in Social Justice: One Center’s Commitment to Liberation through Education
Grade Level: All

Alex works with the Center for Urban Education & Innovation in Miami, FL. He is the Publications Director and an English Professor at Miami Dade College.

Katie Sample
Reclaiming the Hearts and Minds of the African American Learner
Grade Level: All

Katie is a retired Minneapolis Public Schools School Social Worker with many years of experience as a mentor of teachers, parents and students. She received a B.A. in Religious Education, American Baptist College in Chicago, Illinois majoring in Group Work and Community Organization and University of Minnesota License in Applied Social Work. Katie is the executive Director and founder of the African American Academy for Accelerated Learning.

Amy Sandeen
Reclaiming The Hearts And Minds Of African American Learners
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Amy Sandeen has served as a Breakthrough site director since 2002. Her background is in experiential learning as a consultant, administrator, and educator.

Colleen Sanders
Empowering Out-of-School Time Adults: Supporting Academic Achievement Beyond the Classroom
Grade Level: All

Judy Scanlon
Intervention Education Review
Grade Level: 9 to 12

Judy Scanlon is a veteran education with extensive experience in intervention and is currently a grade one/two looping teacher. Passion for early literacy and student success has gained Judy grants to implement innovative instruction.

Ruth Schmeckpeper
Curtain Up on Readers/Writers Theater! Engaging Strategies for Promoting High-Level Thinking
Grade levels: All

Ruth Schmeckpeper teaches at Richfield Intermediate School, a first ring suburb just south of Minneapolis. Richfield Intermediate School houses 850 diverse learners in grades 3, 4, and 5. Ruth serves as the Literacy Coordinator and NUA Liaison for the building.

Pat Schmidt
Data D.O.A.? Not at North!
Grade Level: 6 to 12

Pat Schmidt has been principal at Hopkins North Junior High School for the past six years. For the past three years, North Junior High School has worked in partnership with the National Urban Alliance.

Dr. Roberta Sejnost
How the Adolescent Brain Works and Learns
Grade Level: 9 to 12

Roberta, co-author of Reading and Writing Across Content Areas, has taught social studies, reading, and English at the secondary school level and courses in literacy, authentic assessment, brain-based learning, multiple intelligences, and cooperative learning at the college level. She has been a board member for the International Reading Association’s Secondary Reading Special Interest Group and the Illinois Reading Council. A nationally recognized staff developer, Roberta has presented at over 250 educational conferences. In 1986, she was named Teacher of the Year; in 1993, Roberta was awarded the International Reading Association’s Contribution to Literacy Award; in 1996 she was recognized in Who’s Who of American Educators. and in 2003, she was named Reading Educator of the Year by the Illinois Reading Council.

Dr. Dotti Shelton
Make These a Habit: Cultivating the Habits of Minds
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Dotti has worked as a public school teacher instructing students from elementary, middle and high school. In addition, she has taught at both community colleges and universities in Texas, teaching undergraduate and graduate students. She holds a Doctorate of Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston.

Joanne Shum
Helping Economically Deprived Parents Prepare Their Preschoolers for School
Grade Level: Pre K to 2

Joanne Shum has been a teacher/director for head Start and worked as a public school classroom teacher for fourteen years before becoming an Education Specialist dealing with Preschool Programs in Montgomery, Alabama. She is certified as a Parents As Teachers parent educator, a High Scope Trainer, A HIPPY Coordinator, and is currently the state director for the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY). For six years, Mrs. Shum produced and hosted The Parents Express, a TV show spot lighting issues of concern to parents. She has twice served as President of the Montgomery County Council of PTA’s. She strongly believes that problems involving children cannot be solved without active involvement of their parents.

Elaine Skrentner
NUA Thinking Maps and Strategies in Advanced Placement Courses
Grade Level: 9 to 12

Elaine (Lonni) Skrentner holds a Master of Arts Degree and has thirty-eight years experience teaching Social Studies at the middle school and high school level. She has taught in AP and Gifted Programs including AP U.S. History, AP World History and AP U.S. and Comparative Government. She is a member of the NUA Cohort Program.

Lonni Skrentner
Student Showcase: Culture, Language and Cognition in the Classroom
Grade Level: 9 to 12

A member of a panel that has completed two years of NUA training and implemented a school-wide staff development plan to imbed the NUA strategies across the school, Lonni Skrenter teaches AP U.S. History and Gifted Education.

Iva Smith
Family Math/Family Science: “Hands-on” Approaches To Promote Math/Science Student Achievement
Grade Level: All

IVA A. Smith, Program Manager, University of Michigan Programs For Educational Opportunity, has a MA Degree in Romance languages. She has extensive experience in designing, implementing and evaluating multicultural, multiethnic and bilingual educational programs. She has taught multicultural education courses. She has various degrees in English, Spanish, French, Greek and Italian.

Kelly Smith
Passion, Persuasion, Post-Its, and Partnerships
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Kelly Smith is a fifth grade teacher and NUA Teacher Leader in the Seattle Public Schools. She holds a B.A. in Special Education and is currently teaching students who qualify for the highly capable program. Kelly is passionate about literacy, education reform and innovative professional development.

Dr. Jayne Sowers
Teaching English Language Learners: Language, Culture, Cognition
Grade Level: All

Jayne works at Learning Point Associates assisting schools, districts, and states in meeting the needs of students with disabilities and students learning English as an additional language. Her years of teaching and living overseas provide a solid background for working with educators in areas of cultural awareness an acceptance.

Dr. Jean Strait
Do Boys Ask for Directions? It is a Biologically Wired Question.
Grade Level: Pre K to 8

Jean is a professor of Education at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Passionate about educational psychology, she blends her areas of psychology and reading expertise to assist preservice teachers discovery investigations about children’s learning. Dr. Strait also uses service learning in urban setting to encourage students to experience different learning situations with children.

Mary Sudduth
Reclaiming the Hearts and Minds of the African American Learner
Grade Level: All

Mary is a retired Minneapolis Public Schools School Social Worker. With many years of experience as a mentor of teachers, parents and students, Mary received a B.A. degree in Sociology and Art, Masters in Social Work majoring in Community Organization and completed the Minnesota Administrative Licensure Program at St. Mary’s University. Mary is on the Advisory Board of the African American Academy for Accelerated Learning.

Kristine Swartchick
High Intellectual Performance in ALL Students
Grade Level: All

Kristine Swartchick, 7th grade Science, teaches at Wayzata Central Middle School. She has been involved with the NUA program for the past three years.

Iris Taylor
Secondary Reading Strategies
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Using Multiple Tests in Secondary Content Area Classrooms
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Iris works for Learning Point Associates in Naperville, Illinois. She is a former middle school Language Arts teacher, professional development facilitator, and educational researcher.

Dalen Towne
Student Showcase: Culture, Language and Cognition in the Classroom
Grade Level: 9 to 12

A member of a panel that has completed two years of NUA training and implemented a school-wide staff development plan to imbed the NUA strategies across the school, Dalen Towne, teaches Drawing and Painting I, II, III; Photo I, II, III; and Independent Art Study.

Meggie Trenda
Student Showcase: Culture, Language and Cognition in the Classroom
Grade Level: 9 to 12

A member of a panel that has completed two years of NUA training and implemented a school-wide staff development plan to imbed the NUA strategies across the school, Maggie Trenda teaches Spanish V and Spanish III.

Dr. Crystal Thomas
From Poverty to Performance
Grade Level: Pre K to 8

Crystal is principal at Levan Scott Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has been a principal for eighteen years, serving elementary and middle school students. She is a member of several professional organizations and has served on numerous committees and subgroups. She has facilitated training in diversity, discipline, resilience and self-esteem, best practices, leadership and many other facets of the school environment. Dr. Thomas is a member of the National Register’s Who’s who and has experienced success in raising students’ achievement.

Nicole Vagle
Through the Eyes of A High School Algebra Team
Grade Level: 9 to 12

Nicole served as a high school English teacher and a high school reform specialist for the Minneapolis Schools, where she helped school staff use data to support classroom practice and inform system-wide decision-making. Nicole coaches secondary teachers around literacy, assessment to promote learning, and high expectations for all students.

Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Literacy as Access: Serving African American Learners
Grade Level: All

Dwight is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Education Department at Hamline University. A former classroom teacher, he taught for 15 years in grades K-12. His current research focuses on multicultural children’s literature, culturally relevant practices, reading/writing assessment, and classroom dispositions. He has presented at numerous local, state, national conferences on his research interests and publications.

Sr. Mary Willette
Transforming Urban Student and Organizational Learning: Principals at Work in the LaSallian Association of San Miguel Schools
Grade Level: 4 to 12

Sr. Mary Willette is the principal of a successful urban middle school committed to implementing principals that promote academic success and well being for the whole child.

Belinda Williams
Lifting Them Higher: Elevating the Thinking Capacity of Today’s Students
Grade Level: All

Belinda M. Williams, holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, a M.S. in Management, a Sp.D. in EdAd and is currently working toward her PhD. She has taught for twenty years and has been a principal for seven years in the Kansas City and Minneapolis Public School Districts. Her experience includes teaching, training, strategic and organizational management, supervision and is an Adjunct Faculty member.

Joan Wynne
Grounding Math, Language, and Art in Social Justice: One Center’s Commitment to Liberation through Education
Grade Level: All

Joan works with the Center for Urban Education & Innovation in Miami, FL. She is the Associate Director and Professor of Educational Leadership.

Marilyn Zaretsky
IPS and NUA: Believing, Achieving, And Succeeding
Grade level: All

Marilyn is the Director of the NUA project with the Indianapolis Public Schools. She is a former superintendent of schools and has served as an educational consultant and presenter for local, state and national organizations.

Diana Zidian
Using Technology in Reading: Integrating Interactive Whiteboard Technology in Reading to Measurably Improve Student Achievement Using Technology in Reading
Grade Level: All

Diana is a teacher with the Youngstown School District in Youngstown, Ohio.