Presenter ELA Biographies Common Core Learning Standards & Assessments ReadKiddoRead.com, and a Community Representative for the Digital Public Library of America. Melissa was named a 2015 Mover and Shaker by Library Journal and is the recipient of the 2014 School Library Systems Association of New York State Distinguished Service Award. She has been published in Teacher Librarian, School Library Journal, School Librarian's Workshop and Knowledge Quest. Melissa enjoys spending time with her two high-spirited daughters, exploring emerging technologies, lifelong learning, cooking, and obsessively collecting cookbooks. Connect with Melissa on Twitter @missyji or email her at mjacobs7@schools.nyc.gov.
Margaret (Peggy) Golden has planned and facilitated many professional development sessions with a primary focus on mathematics instruction. She has many years of experience as a classroom teacher, college professor and staff development specialist. She was a New York State Math Mentor for over 10 years. Peggy was a Grade 5 writer of the Engage New York Math Modules. Presently, she is a member of Southern Westchester BOCES’ Network Team. Peggy has presented Module training sessions in Albany for Network Team Members for the last two years. Alexandra Greenberg is the Coordinator of Math Professional Development at Southern Westchester BOCES. Alexandra has served as a middle and high school math teacher specializing in curriculum design, lesson differentiation, and mentoring of new teachers. She brings her extensive experience as a professional developer and content expert. Alexandra serves as SW BOCES Network Team leader, working with the New York State Education Department to educate school districts to provide turnkey training on the implementation of the Regents Reform Agenda. Alexandra holds Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education with over 180 credits in math, multimedia and software programming, Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics, as well as a dual Masters in Building and District Educational Leadership from the College of New Rochelle.
Charlene Jordan Ed.D. has been the Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services and Professional Development at Rockland BOCES for the past six years. Prior to coming to Rockland she worked as a teacher, Director, Assistant Principal, Principal and Instructional Coach for Principals. She has worked in NYC and Westchester. In her current role, she provides workshops and on-site training for districts on all aspects of APPR implementation and support for mandated recalibration. Additionally, Dr. Jordan is certified as a Critical Friends Group (CFG) Coach through the National School Reform Faculty, as well as an MPPR (Multi Dimension Principal Performance Review) Coach through Learner Centered Initiatives, Inc. She leads the Rockland BOCES Professional Development Team. Linda Kasal Fusco, Ph.D. has been a secondary Mathematics and Science educator for over 36 years in New York State. Her 7-12 classroom teaching experience has ranged from special education to AP Physics and AP Environmental Science. The last 13 years of her career were spent supervising Mathematics and Science teachers in three NYS public school districts. She retired from the position as Secondary Mathematics Supervisor in June 2006 and has been a consultant for SW BOCES since 2007.
Heidi Henderson entered the field of education indirectly through the sciences. She earned a B.A. in Biopsychology with an emphasis on Learning and Memory from Cornell University in 1996. Her work included identifying the physical changes that occur neurologically as a result of learning. She then earned a M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Cross Cultural Teaching from National University in San Diego, California. Heidi first started working with Thinking Maps twelve years ago in North Carolina and saw first -hand how the concepts gave all students a visual foundation upon which they could quickly build, regardless of subject area or grade level.
Angela Magliano is a social studies teacher with 40 years of classroom experience in grades 7-12. As a field supervisor for Teachers' College, Columbia University, she helps prepare students for teaching careers. She has written curriculum for NYC, the China Institute and the Asia Society and was a consultant for Barron's and Oxford book publishers. She has presented social studies workshops on the national, state and local levels and is currently on the executive board of the Association of Teachers of Social Studies, NY. Continued on next page
Melissa Jacobs is a Coordinator in the Office of Library Services for the New York City Department of Education. Melissa is the founder and current Chair of the American Association of School Librarians Best Apps for Teaching and Learning Committee, President of the School Library Systems Association of New York State, book reviewer for 90