I Am Nearing the End of My Third Year As the Director of School Improvement for the North

Meet the Presenters

Thanks to these incredibly talented and knowledgeable presenters who have given so generously of their time to be with us today!

Initiatives and Priorities

Dr. Brad Buck serves as the Director of the Iowa Department of Education. Buck began his career in education in 1992 as a middle school science teacher in the Ankeny Community School District. He taught for five years before taking on a number of administrative roles in the Waukee, Hudson, and North Mahaska school districts. Most recently, Buck was superintendent of the Saydel Community School District in Des Moines. Buck is a former president of School Administrators of Iowa and has held positions on various state-level committees and initiatives. They include Collaborating for Iowa’s Kids, a joint effort by the Iowa Department of Education, the Area Education Agencies, and school districts to support and scale up evidence-based literacy practices across the state. Buck is a graduate of Iowa State University, where he received a Ph.D. and a master’s degree, and the University of Northern Iowa, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He lives in Urbandale with his wife, Traci, and their six children.

“ Iowa Core Mathematics Standards: Focusing on Fewer Topics and Learning More” Marshalltown CSD

Dr. Susan Pecinovsky serves as the Associate Superintendent for Student Achievement in the Marshalltown Community School District. Prior to the Marshalltown Community School District, Dr. Pecinovsky served as Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction in the Ames Community School District and with AEA 267 for eleven years as an administrator for Educational Services, a School Improvement Consultant, a Professional Development Consultant and a Literacy Consultant. Her educational career began in the teaching of English and Language Arts at the secondary level. Dr. Susan Pecinovsky is an active member of School Administrators of Iowa, serves on the Legislative Committee for ASCD and the Board of Iowa ASCD. Dr. Susan Pecinovsky has served on the Board of the Iowa ASCD for the last ten years as IASCD President, Chair - Curriculum Academy, Co-Chair – Effective Schools Conference, and presently as Co-Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee. In addition, Dr. Pecinovsky serves as an adjunct faculty member for Viterbo College and Drake University in the principal and superintendent endorsement programs.

Laura Fricke is a 5th grade math and in her 9th year as a science teacher at Lenihan Intermediate school. She has worked on identifying mastery skills in the math curriculum and aligning instruction to mastery skills since 2012 and is a member of the Marshalltown Math Leadership team.

Jan Kloberdanz is a fifth grade teacher in a self-contained classroom at Lenihan Intermediate School and is in her twentieth year of teaching. Throughout her career she has worked to develop curriculum in all content areas that is focused, coherent, and viable. She has served on Marshalltown Community School District’s Elementary Math Leadership Team for the past six years.

“ Embracing the Iowa Core: Determining the Essentials” Cedar Falls CSD

Christine Mangrich is in her third year with Cedar Falls Community Schools as the K-12 Instructional Services Coordinator. Previously, she worked for AEA 267 as the Lead Consultant for the Iowa Core. Additionally, she collaborated with the Iowa Department of Education on several Iowa Core work teams. Prior to working at AEA 267, she was a third grade teacher for Union Community Schools in La Porte City. Christine is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Educational Leadership.

Tammy Bronemann is in her 24th year of teaching. Thirteen of those years were in the classroom; grades one to four. She has also served as a title one/reading recovery teacher and literacy coach. During that time she taught college courses for pre-service teachers and served on Black Hawk Children's Reading Council. Currently, she is in her second year as TAG/Instructional Coach for Cedar Falls Schools. Her focus is on helping teachers differentiate instruction and assisting new teachers implement the reading and language arts curriculum.

“ Doing the Right Work” Cedar Rapids CSD

Erin Thompson has been in education for twelve years and has a BA from Eastern Illinois University and her MAE from the University of Northern Iowa. She has taught a variety of high school language arts courses in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. Currently, she is the Secondary ELA Curriculum Facilitator for the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Becky Thorson has been in education for twelve years, all of which have been with the Cedar Rapids Schools. She has a BA in Elementary and Middle School education and an MA in Teaching Math in the Middle Grades (4-8) from the University of Northern Iowa. She began her career teaching 6th grade math and has worked in several leadership positions over the last 6 years, including Elementary Math Instructional Coach, Elementary Math Specialist, and K-8 Math Curriculum Facilitator. She also serves on the State Math Leadership Steering Committee and State Math Leadership Team.

Susan Van Woert ‘s career in education spans 34 years. She enjoyed the 28 years she spent teaching in first, second and third grade classrooms in Eastern Iowa. Susan worked several years as an elementary instructional coach and is currently the Elementary ELA and Social Studies Curriculum Facilitator for the Cedar Rapids Community School District. She earned her BS from Mount Mercy College, her MAE from the University of Northern Iowa, and is a National Board Certified teacher.

“ Collaborating to Implement Concept Based Instructional Units at the High School” East Sac CSD; Newell- Fonda CSD

Kevin R. Litterer has been a principal at East Sac for nine years and a high school principal for 14 years having spent five years at Glidden-Ralston as the 7-12 Principal. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Tammy Vine has been an educator for 34 years with four of those years being spent teaching in Spain. Tammy currently teaches Spanish and dual credit English Composition. Tammy earned her BA from Luther College and her masters from New York University in Madrid, Spain. This is Tammy’s second year of developing conceptual units.

Melissa Salgado has been educator for eight years. She has been at East Sac County High School for three years. Melissa currently teaches sophomore English II, Sports Literature, and Contemporary Literature. Melissa is a graduate of Buena Vista University. This is Melissa’s third year of developing conceptual units.

“ STEM in the Waterloo Schools” Waterloo CSD

Angela Hewitt was hired as the Waterloo Schools’ District STEM Coordinator in December of 2012. Prior to joining the district, Angela served as the Director of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Academy at the University of Northern Iowa. Angela attended Iowa State University, earning a degree in animal ecology. A summer internship experience with a nature center inspired her to pursue a career in science education. Angela taught high school science in Minnesota and Wisconsin before returning to Iowa in 2006. With a master’s degree in science education from the University of Northern Iowa, Angela is committed to the expansion of STEM opportunities for Waterloo students. Angela believes that STEM is not a stand-alone entity. It cuts across all disciplines and fosters critical thinking, creativity, and connections to careers, college, and scientific literacy. Her goal is to support and grow the STEM initiatives that are currently taking place in Waterloo and to seek out and develop new STEM opportunities for students and teachers.

The Challenges of “Catching the Truck”

Dr. David Tilly currently serves as Deputy Director at the Iowa Department of Education and Administrator of the Division of Learning and Results at the Iowa Department of Education. Prior to his appointment at the Department, Dr. Tilly served as Director of Innovation and Accountability for Heartland AEA 11. He has been a regional AEA director, a faculty member at Iowa State University, a State Department of Education Consultant and a practicing school psychologist. Dave works regularly with states, school districts, federal offices and national organizations on improving educational results for all children. He is the 2006 recipient of the Martha Fields Award of Excellence from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. He is also the author or coauthor of 40 published journal articles, book chapters or books, mostly focused on education innovation, systems change and improving educational results.

“ Unit Planning with Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) Framework” Cedar Falls CSD

Eric Rosburg has been teaching math for nine years and is currently a ninth grade math teacher at Peet Junior High in Cedar Falls. He has seven years of experience working with AIW and is currently part of the AIW Unit Planning pilot cohort.

“ Designing Integrated Units of Study: Meeting the Challenge of the Common Core” North Scott CSD

Bernadette Brustkern is the Systems Manager/Intermediate Interventionist at Ed White Elementary in the North Scott Community School District. She was previously a fourth grade teacher. She earned her BA (Elementary Ed) from The University of Northern Iowa and MA (Educational Leadership) from Western Illinois University and is currently working on her Master of Science in Education degree in Reading with a reading specialist emphasis at Western Illinois University.

Laura Jacobsen is the Comprehensive Literacy Coach at Ed White Elementary in the North Scott Community School District. She was previously the Reading Recovery and primary reading intervention teacher. She earned her BA (Elementary Ed) and MA (Administration) from the University of Iowa and is currently working on her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Northern Iowa.

Kelsey Bower has been a first grade teacher at Ed White Elementary for seven years in the North Scott Community School District. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education (Reading Endorsement) from Winona State University and a M.A. Elementary Education (Reading Specialty) from Western Illinois University.

Jennifer Neff is a first grade teacher at Ed White Elementary School and the ELL coordinator for North Scott Community School District. She earned her BA(Elementary Education and Spanish) at Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois. She earned a master's degree (emphasis in bilingual/ESL education) from Western Illinois University and is currently completing a master's in reading. Jennifer has also worked with readwritethink.org to publish lesson plans and strategy guides for use in primary classrooms.

Melissa Soenksen is a first grade teacher at Ed White Elementary in the North Scott Community School District. She was a Kindergarten teacher previously. She earned her BA (Elementary Ed) from St. Ambrose University and is currently working on her masters in reading at Western Illinois University. “ Transitioning from Teaching to Ensuring Learning: One District’s Initial Efforts toward implementation of a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum” Perry CSD

Kevin Vidergar is in his first year serving as the Director of Teaching and Learning for Perry Community School District after serving six years in a similar position for the North Polk Community School District. Perry CSD is located northwest of Des Moines in Perry, Iowa. Perry has 1,906 students with 807 in the elementary (one building), 416 in middle school and 587 in high school. Demographically diverse, Perry students are 48% Hispanic, 4% Asian, African-American, Native America, or Pacific Islander, and 48% Caucasian. 63% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, 20% for ESL services, and 10% have IEPs.

His responsibilities range from overseeing curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning to directing the district library, TAG, and counseling programs, guiding professional learning for the administrative team, collaborating around technology professional learning, etc. Perry Elementary is in its 7th year of being a school in need of assistance so I am collaborating with the new elementary principal, associate principal, and the building leadership team, to write and implement their restructuring plan. The middle school is now on the list of persistently low achieving schools so he has just started collaborating in a similar fashion with the middle school leadership team. In addition, he writes grants, observe in classrooms, coach and evaluate teachers, coach principals, and try to serve lunch at the elementary building once a month!

“ RtI Success in a REAL Comprehensive High School” Clinton CSD

Karinne Tharaldson-Jones has been the principal of Clinton High School for the past 14 years. Before that time she was a middle school English/Language Arts teacher in Clinton for 5 years. Karinne received her BA and Master’s Degree from the University of Iowa. One of Karinne’s greatest assets is her ability to create a system where change is encouraged and facilitated. Toward this end she has implemented PLCs and a comprehensive RtI process to fidelity, which in turn has created a new learning culture at Clinton High focused on student success.

Deb Olson has been an educator in Iowa for the past 33 years. All but three of those years have been in the Clinton Community School District where she has taught middle school science, was the curriculum director, the Assistant Superintendent and now the Superintendent of Schools. Deb received her BA from Luther College and her advanced degrees from Western Illinois University. The Clinton District believes in systemic professional development, PK-12, and continues to implement Professional Learning Communities, Gradual Release (Iowa Core), and Response to Intervention (MTSS).

John Jorgensen is completing is 35th year as an educator in the Clinton Community School District. He was an elementary school principal for 16 years and has been the district’s curriculum director for the past 4 years. John received his BA degree from Wartburg College and his masters and specialist degrees from Western Illinois University.