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RUTH VINZ
Founding Director Endowed Chair, Morse Professor of Teaching Education Dr. Ruth Vinz taught middle and high school students for twenty-three years before coming to Teachers College. She is a Professor in the English Education Program and the Enid and Lester Morse Endowed Chair in Teacher Education. She directs the Center for the Professional Education of Teachers. Ruth is the co-author of several books, Inside Out, Recasting the Text, Learning the Landscapes and Writing Qualitative Research. Her book, Composing A Teaching Life, received the Richard Meade award for outstanding research published in English education in 1997. She is co-author of the Houghton Mifflin Daybooks, a new 6-12 grade series of reading and writing literature books used in thousands of secondary classrooms, both nationally and internationally. In the most recent book, Becoming (Other)Wise, Dr. Vinz collaborated with other Program faculty in an examination of multicultural literature education and cultural criticism as literacy events. Her research interests include cultural literacies, particularly focused on adolescent readers’ practices, constructed and constructing identities of teachers, and traditions and representations of research-in-practice. At CPET, Dr. Vinz serves as Director and Senior Advisor to all initiatives. RUTH VINZ
Founding Director |
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ROBERTA LENGER KANG
Center Director Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang was a high school English teacher for eight years in Denver, Colorado and New York City. She wrote several district wide curricula for Denver Public Schools and the NYC Department of Education before transitioning from classroom teacher to professional development coach in 2006. As a coach, Roberta has supported schools on instruction, assessment, systems and structures, literacy and accountability mandates. In 2015, Roberta completed her doctorate in English Education from Columbia's University, Teachers College with a focus on the impact of mandated assessments on students, teachers and school leaders. In her role as the Initiative Director, Roberta supervises the professional development programs and initiatives projects across the Center. Roberta cultivates partnerships with schools, districts, and organizations, in critical areas such as developing academic rigor, refining literacy in high school, creating meaningful instruction for high stakes assessments, and leveraging city and state mandates for authentic school change. You can reach her at kang@tc.edu. |
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ADELE BRUNI ASHLEY Faculty Contributor Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley is a lecturer in the English Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught 8th through 12th grade English at the New York City Lab School, founding the Lab Theatre Company (LTC) in 2007. Prior to public school teaching, she received her M.F.A. in acting from the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program (PATP) where she taught undergraduate theatre. As an educator, she is interested in structuring classroom spaces as laboratories for imaginative exploration and creation. |
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JORGE BELTRAN Senior Professional Development Coach Jorge Beltran is currently pursuing his Ed.D. in Applied Linguistics at Teachers College, Columbia University, in the second language assessment track. He was granted a 2018 APTIS Assessment Research Award for his pilot study proposal. In 2016, he received a Master of Education degree in the same major at TC. He has experience working in EFL and ESL settings, from the elementary to the college level. Regarding his work with CPET, Jorge has collaborated in various projects for the Student Press Initiative and has also facilitated PD workshops. His interests include language assessment, second language acquisition, communicative approaches to language teaching, learning-oriented assessment, process writing, and developing voice in personal narratives. |
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GREGORY BENOIT Senior Professional Development Coach Dr. Gregory Benoit recently graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with his doctorate in Math Education. He uses his experience as a Boston Public School student and as a Boston Public School teacher as an anchor to his research and his educational philosophy. He believes witnessing multiple perspectives have helped him greatly understand the importance of equity and inquiry, and is pleased to bring those perspectives to CPET, as well as Columbia. He uses practice as the ultimate method to examine theory, as he constantly and continuously evolves his pedagogy further. His interests include gamification in mathematics, creation of mathematics identities, diversity in mathematics classrooms, the use of new theoretical frameworks to transform mathematics education and so on. His overall goal is to increase the magnitude of “ah-ha” moments in mathematics classrooms. GREGORY BENOIT
Senior Professional Development Coach |
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COURTNEY BROWN Senior Professional Development Advisor Courtney Brown is a Senior Professional Development Advisor whose work is informed by her range of experiences as a high school and middle school teacher of English and the humanities. Grounded in the philosophies of project-based learning and literacy across the disciplines, Courtney supports school leaders and teachers to develop culturally relevant curriculum and practices in order to enable students and schools to thrive and achieve their potential. Currently, her work includes a focus on developing PLC's and school-wide practices to support struggling schools to leverage mandates and build on their strengths. Courtney has presented workshops for school districts, the Student Press Initiative, AERA, ATE, the Global learning Alliance, and the National Council of Teachers of English Convention. She feels privileged to work with educators in NYC and collaborate with her colleagues at CPET. COURTNEY BROWN
Senior Professional Development Advisor ARTICLES UPCOMING PD Coaching for Change CRSE: Student-Centered Learning Teacher As Researcher |
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ALISON COHEN Lead Professional Development Advisor Alison is a product of an urban public school system (DCPS), and her experiences as a student made her passionate about educational equity and school community building. Alison has spent more than a decade working in public middle and high schools in New York City and New Jersey. She has been a teacher (English, Literacy, ESOL/ENL, Special Ed), school mindfulness program director, student teacher supervisor, teacher advice columnist, professional development facilitator, and coach. Alison holds a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University and an M.S.T. in TESOL from Fordham. Her areas of expertise include literacy across the content areas, assessment best practices, teacher leader development, educator self-care, mindfulness-based school community building, and the benefits and challenges of growth mindset initiatives. She admires educators' dedication to the young people in their care and is committed to supporting them. ALISON COHEN
Lead Professional Development Advisor ARTICLES |
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CRISTINA COMPTON Director of Program Development Dr. Cristina Romeo Compton received her doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2016, with a concentration in the teaching of English. She began her career in education as a NYC Teaching Fellow, teaching in a Title 1 school, while completing her Masters in Childhood Education. Cristina serves as the Director of Program Development at CPET, overseeing a wide range of school-based projects and the Student Press Initiative, an initiative that supports teachers and students in developing projects that culminate in professionally designed, print-based publications. When working with schools, she focuses on areas of strength and opportunities for growth, in an effort to develop highly customized and targeted professional development plans. In her on-site work, she supports schools with curriculum design, unit planning, project-based learning, and developing literacy strategies that can bolster student achievement across the disciplines. CRISTINA COMPTON
Director of Program Development ARTICLES UPCOMING PD Best Practices for Guided Reading Designing Coherent Instruction The Power of PBL The Write Project |
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JEN DECERFF Senior Professional Development Coach Jennifer DeCerff was raised on Long Island, NY and studied English Literature at the University of Richmond. After finishing her degree, she lived in South Africa and worked in the non-profit sector mentoring high school and university students. She has over 10 years experience facilitating relationship skills workshops with adults and has spent the last three years teaching ESL to high school students and new immigrants in Durban, South Africa. Jennifer recently moved back to the New York area and completed her M.A. at Teacher’s College. While she is here, she wants to learn as much as possible about New York City schools and to support those who teach in them. She is a current doctoral student in the English Education program. JEN DECERFF
Senior Professional Development Coach |
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KATIE ELLER Lead Professional Development Coach Katie Harlan Eller is a PhD student in the English Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research goals are informed by 15 years spent in various classroom and educational leadership roles. Katie holds degrees from Baylor University and Duke University, both of which provided her with formative experiences in fieldwork and interdisciplinary content areas. Her interests include critical literacy, ELA teacher education, and culturally responsive pedagogy. She is excited to build relationships and learn alongside the teachers and students of New York City. KATIE ELLER
Lead Professional Development Coach |
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ISSAC HODGES Administrative Coordinator Prior to joining CPET, Issac attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice where he received his B.A. in Criminology and Forensic Psychology. Born in Yonkers and raised in the Bronx, Yonkers, and Mount Vernon, Issac was able to experience the NYC and the NYS public school system firsthand. The treatment of these schools systems and their students is what led Issac to become extremely passionate about finding ways to create access and opportunity for all students. During his time at John Jay, Issac served as the Alumni Outreach Coordinator for CUNY’s Early College Initiative (ECI), assisting high school students who had already accumulated large amounts of credits transition into the College atmosphere. Issac designed monthly workshops, conducted one-on-one advisement, and continued support throughout the semester. Issac is excited to be a part of the CPET community where he can continue to create change for generations to come. ISSAC HODGES
Administrative Coordinator |
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SHERRISH HOLLOMAN Lead Professional Development Advisor Dr. Sherrish Holloman is a dynamic, self-directed, and trailblazing international education leader. She has a 25-year track record of delivering impactful results in the instructional development and student learning sector. She was as a high school English teacher in Greensboro, North Carolina for seven years before transitioning to a professional development coach in New York City. She served as a district leader for Teacher Support, Recognition and Retention in Memphis, Tennessee and recently spent five years in Abu Dhabi/Dubai, United Arab Emirates where she served as an Education Advisor in their Department of Education and Knowledge. She has successfully developed systemic solutions, improved instruction practices, led teacher retention initiatives, and elevated student outcomes at a national and international scale. She earned her doctorate in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a focus on students' experience of writing with the Student Press Initiative. SHERRISH HOLLOMAN
Lead Professional Development Advisor ARTICLES UPCOMING PD Keep the Kids Talking Rebuilding Learning Communities |
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SEAN HUGHES Professional Development Coach Sean is currently pursuing an Ed.M. in applied linguistics at Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to arriving at Teachers College, he earned an MA-TESOL from The New School. As an English teacher for the last 13 years, both in the US and overseas, Sean has taught in a wide range of English classrooms, teaching learners of all levels and ages. For the past two years, Sean has been a teacher trainer in Dak Lak, Vietnam, as an English Language Fellow hosted by the U.S. Department of State. He looks forward to meeting and working with other teaching professionals. SEAN HUGHES
Professional Development Coach |
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ESMERALDA JIMENEZ Professional Development Coach Esmeralda is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to arriving at Teachers College, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Education Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Additionally, she received her Spanish Bilingual Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (BCLAD) from Loyola Marymount University while completing the program Teach for America. Her experience as a classroom teacher spans eight years across four cities. Esmeralda has had the opportunity to teach and learn from many wonderful students, and she looks forward to working with teachers and students in New York City and beyond. ESMERALDA JIMENEZ
Professional Development Coach |
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G. FAITH LITTLE Senior Program Manager, Special Projects G. Faith Little's role as Senior Program Manager, focused on special projects, has been shaped by her wide range of experiences with students, their families, and the community of educators who invest in them. Because Faith sees each as a valuable stakeholder in the education process, her work is focused on identifying barriers and building bridges; supporting individual and team growth with creative, compassionate leadership. Faith joined the CPET team in 2014, after 10+ years of experience in youth development, teaching in Denver Public Schools, and serving in Colorado State Government as a technical writer. Specific focus areas include: CPET processes and structures, social/emotional student support, educator wellness, advisory, parent engagement, curriculum development, building cohesive teams, and on site coaching for educators in settings outside of the classroom. G. FAITH LITTLE
Senior Program Manager, Special Projects ARTICLES UPCOMING PD Rebuilding Learning Communities |
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ESTEFHANEY LOPEZ Professional Development Coach Originally from southern Texas, Estefhaney is pursuing her EdD in the Early Childhood Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to joining Teachers College, Estefhaney served as a preschool educator for three years. Her experience took place in Reggio-inspired schools with a focus on anti-bias education. She is inspired by child-centered philosophies and critical pedagogy. ESTEFHANEY LOPEZ
Professional Development Coach |
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MARCELLE MENTOR Faculty Contributor Dr. Marcelle Mentor is a lecturer in the English Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a South African native, and an education specialist. Her academic interest focuses on Critical Race Theory, with an emphasis on Black Masculinity and teachers of color in the K-12 classroom. Her teaching philosophy is based on the concept of Ubuntu, which is a Southern African ethic or humanistic approach that focuses on the fact that we are people through the existence and interaction with and from other people. She is an activist, a mother of two sons, a wife, a researcher, a scholar, and teller of stories. She believes in equality in access of education for all. |
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KAYDIE MILKS Director of Operations Kaydie arrived at CPET after earning an M.A. in Psychological Counseling and an Ed.M. in School Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her time as a crisis management counselor and her lifetime of experience as a planning and organization-obsessed problem-solver have helped shape her current role at the Center. As the Director of Operations, Kaydie plays many parts - she created this website, is responsible for creating promotional materials and strategies for the Center, and as the person who oversees the Center’s finances, you can usually find her dealing with anything and everything that involves a dollar sign. KAYDIE MILKS
Director of Operations |
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SARAH MONTGOMERY-GLINSKI Senior Professional Development Coach Sarah is a PhD student in the Anthropology and Education program at Teachers College, where she is studying assessment and discipline in New York City’s high schools. Before coming to Teachers College, Sarah taught for eight years as a special education and humanities teacher. She is inspired by the work and care teachers put forth to nurture and support their students, and finds that her work with CPET allows her to support teachers as they develop strategies and tools for a wide range of needs in the classroom. SARAH MONTGOMERY-GLINSKI
Senior Professional Development Coach |
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KATE MOORE Lead Professional Development Coach Kate Moore is a doctoral candidate in the Cognitive Studies in Education program within the Human Development Department at Teachers College, Columbia University. She studies how discourse and argumentation in collaborative problem-solving impacts student performance, learning, and motivation among middle and high school students. Before her doctoral work, Kate taught as an English, Technology, and Special Education teacher at PS 224 in the South Bronx, NY, a Learning Specialist at Newark Collegiate Academy in Newark, NJ, a Head teacher for SKILLs at the Cooke Institute in Manhattan, NY, and a Science Teacher in Pittsburgh, PA. Kate holds a MST in Middle Childhood Education and Special Education from Pace University, a dual teaching certification as a Generalist and Special Educator in English, Math, and Science, and a BA in Anthropology from Barnard College, Columbia University. Her experience as a classroom teacher spans 10 years, two cities, four subjects, and a whole lot of learning from some incredible students. KATE MOORE
Lead Professional Development Coach |
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LANCE OZIER Extended Learning & Literacy Specialist For nearly 20 years, Lance has been a classroom teacher and literacy coach in elementary, middle and secondary public schools in Atlanta and NYC. Lance was the Senior Literacy Specialist at the Institute for Student Achievement, a division of the Educational Testing Service. There he led a Carnegie Corporation pilot program to include growth mindset and non-cognitive skills in the academic core. Lance has also been a consultant for Stanford University’s Center for Assessment, Learning and Equity (SCALE). Lance holds a BA in Elementary Education from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, a MA in Sociology and Education, as well as his M.Ed and Ed.D in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Lance has taught courses at Teachers College and Bank Street College, and is currently on the faculty at the City University of New York. LANCE OZIER
Extended Learning & Literacy Specialist |
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LAURA RIGOLOSI Curriculum & Literacy Specialist Dr. Laura Rigolosi earned her M.A. and Ed.D. From Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also taught in the English Education department. Her doctoral research focused on the ways we teach reading in Title 1 high school classrooms, and she continues to research the best literacy practices at the secondary level. Before beginning her doctoral studies, Laura taught English in a District 2 high school; this sparked her interest in the most effective ways to teach reading and writing to diverse learners. For the past 15 years, Laura has worked with teachers in all disciplines and continues to help teachers increase their literacy practices in classrooms, thus increasing engagement and understanding within content area classes. She has led literacy-based workshops for teachers in NY, NJ, PA, CT, CA, and OH. |
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JACQUI STOLZER Senior Professional Development Coach Jacqui is currently pursuing a P.h.D. in the English Education department at Teachers College. As a former New York City public school teacher, Jacqui has taught in a wide range of English classrooms, from specialized classes for students with disabilities, to inclusion classrooms, to AP Language and Composition. At CPET, Jacqui has partnered with middle and high school teachers to develop engaging Common Core-aligned ELA curriculum, differentiate for students with disabilities, and cultivate productive co-teaching relationships. She looks forwards to another year of supporting hardworking and passionate teachers! |
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ARNELLE WILLIAMS Professional Development Coach Prior to joining CPET, Arnelle taught eighth grade English and Dance, while also serving as a 2017 Teach for America Corps member in Clarksdale, MS for three years. As an educator and youth mentor, Arnelle created a blog titled Her Diaries for middle school girls to articulate their experiences about growing up in the Mississippi Delta. Arnelle loves to volunteer, read, tutor, and empower youth in education and the arts. Arnelle earned her bachelor's degree in anthropology with honors from Wesleyan University in 2017. ARNELLE WILLIAMS
Professional Development Coach |
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ASHLYNN WITTCHOW Professional Development Coach Ashlynn is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to joining the Teachers College community, Ashlynn taught middle school and high school English in Columbia, South Carolina for six years. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ashlynn served her school as both the yearbook sponsor and as the lead mock trial coach for her competitive middle school team. Ashlynn is excited to join the CPET community and to work with teachers and students in NYC and beyond. ASHLYNN WITTCHOW
Professional Development Coach |
