I have a wealth of experience as both a teacher and an administrator. My experience includes several years as a kindergarten, first grade teacher, and Reading Consultant, as well as six years as a Central Office administrator. In addition, I am an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University where I teach graduate Reading courses. I am also the author of the book, “Exploring Nonfiction with Young Learners.” In addition to being an educator in Connecticut, I am an item writer and reviewer for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and also author several resources in the SBAC Digital Library/Tools for Teachers. I am very passionate about growing my own knowledge so that I may effectively support teachers in implementing innovative instructional practices that foster high levels of student engagement, success, and joy.My previous role as a Reading Consultant, as well as my recent role as the district Instructional Supervisor have enabled me to gain ample experience in determining and addressing needs in the areas of Professional Development and school improvement. In addition to organizing Professional Opportunities, I coached Reading Consultants, Special Education staff, department leaders, and Curriculum Specialists in order to meet the needs of all learners by supporting embedded Professional Development in all content areas. I also collaborated with building principals in order to create action plans for instructional improvement as well as share ideas on how to build and maintain a positive school climate. In addition to collaborating, I supervised Reading Consultants, K-12 teachers, and also revised the district’s SRBI process. While I was in Wethersfield, I was appointed Acting Principal for Highcrest School for a portion of the school year due to an emergency situation. During this time, I performed all the duties of a building principal in order to set up the building for the school year. As an Executive Director of Innovation in Fairfield, I gained additional expertise in supervising directors and principals, preparing the Superintendent’s budget, writing Title grants, overseeing the Summer school and preschool programs, and updating the district’s teacher evaluation plan. Throughout my career, I have developed a passion for collaborating with teachers, curriculum leaders, and administrators in order to foster innovation and help all of our students reach their full potentials. I have an innate ability to inspire others to take risks and implement new and innovative instructional methods.