More than three dozen educators with Dunkirk City Schools were recently recognized for work they have invested outside of school in an effort to improve teaching in the district. During last month's Board of Education meeting, Executive Director of Academic Programs and Data Rebecca Leone presented certificates to the educators and leaders in evidence-based instruction.
10 instructional leaders completed a two-year Explicit Instruction training program, and according to Leone, they have developed a new teacher training course that will be rolled out this fall. Those leaders include:
- Marie Cameron
- Kate Cieslewicz
- Lisa Czarnecki
- Marcella Dolce
- Courtney Donovan
- Jessica Houghtaling
- Bridgette Kurtz
- Sarah Lanigan
- Joanne Michalski
- Brianna Rodriguez
Nine teachers finished the Early Childhood Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) program, which is geared toward pre-K literacy. Leone says these educators completed 55 hours of independent online learning and 60 hours of face-to-face with professional development:
- Tara Amidon
- Marianne Borzilleri
- Sarah Crane
- Kim Desmond-Keppel
- Jaimee Gustafson
- Mary Lang
- Kisun Peters
- Haley Supkoski
- Becca Wendell
And a group of literacy leaders completed Volumes 1 and 2 of training in the LETRS K-6 program. Leone says this group invested an estimated 247 hours per educator over two years, prioritizing "deep literacy science" in order to better serve students. This group includes Leone, as well as:
- Sandy Bianco
- Valerie Csont
- Erin Cunningham
- Jessica Davis
- Melanie Dolce
- Cady Dunning
- Alyce Fancher
- Jen Hill
- Corinna Hooge
- Jessica Houghtaling
- Kyle Jarrell
- Sarah Meyers
- Angie Penhollow
- Amber Promber
- Elizabeth Rich
- Denise Sievert
- Deenah Simchick
- Amanda Sullivan
- Cheryl Symans
- Julie Troche
Photos by Greg Larson
