Heather Phillips Email & Phone Number

My professional experience includes supporting students with various special education labels in a resource room, self-contained classrooms, and several inclusion positions across K-5. I’ve also worked at the high school level as well. Over the years, I have sought out multiple learning opportunities to develop my teaching practices including Davis Dyslexia and Orton-Gillingham. Additionally, I’ve developed my craft through Responsive Classroom, Adaptive Schools, and Cognitive Coaching. I transitioned as a general education teacher a few years ago to work on my teaching craft within one grade and curriculum. Additionally, I worked as PLC leader for many years. This opportunity supported my leadership growth by facilitating meetings and using data cycles to respond to student needs. . My grade level team explored research suggested by the Science of Reading. During this learning experience, we deepened our understanding of evidence-based reading practices through the Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties and The Knowledge Gap. Both sources serve as a way to deepen our understanding of the various reading strands needed for students to become a skilled reader.Mission and value statements often strive to develop students to become educated, self-confident, and responsible citizens in a changing world. Spending time learning and reflecting with educators participating in Ignite Engagement along with the authors of Engaging Children and Cultivating Genius has created a sense of urgency to empower students to share their voice as a result of what they are feeling and believing as they read and learn. Gholdy Muhammad says, “Learning and working to improve human cognition helps students foster their emotional intelligence and helps to cultivate their hearts. Students can learn and examine social problems and begin to rethink the world in creative ways.” I love this for all students, but I especially love it for our disadvantaged ones that need to share their voices and see that greater opportunities exist. Our students must become more than passive receivers of knowledge, but active thinkers to engage and own their role in literacy. I see myself partnering with an organization who is passionate about bringing this to life for our community of learners.

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  Michigan State University

  Educational Leadership