INNOVATOR

Facilitator, Illinois Innovation Talent Project, Rounds One and Two, 2008-2012

“Engaged Tech Trainer” for Glenbard West High School, using technology to help teachers build student-centered classrooms and assessment

Certified Palm Educational Training Coordinator, June 2003

Compass Trainer [Glenbard District 87 Staff Development Program]

Co-founder of PRISM, the Gay/Straight Alliance at Glenbard West that works for all human rights

Founder of the Glenbard West Tech Squad and WIMS, a mentoring program for young women in math and science

Co-developer and teacher of Problem-Based Communications and Technology, a problem-based learning course at West

Director of PBL Collaboration between students and major law firm

Author of two textbooks that integrate technology and process writing

Member of the Faculty of the Harris Institute for Problem-Based Learning, 1996-1999 and 2001-2002

Teacher-leader in the Illinois Problem-Based Learning Network, developing new training opportunities for Illinois teachers

Founder of the Learning Skills Center, a resource program for both teachers and students, 1985-1987, designated a "National Center of Excellence" by the National Council of Teachers of English

Participant in ACE ["Assisting Change in Education"] training, 1994

Participant in three days of training by Edward deBono, 1985-1986

Founder of Page to Stage, annual performance of student writing by students, designed to provide student writers with a real audience

Chairman of Basic Council, 1984-1987, and founder of Basic Newsletter

EXPERIENCED PRESENTER

2014 SWSWedu, “TeacherMatch: A Better Path to Teacher Induction and Retention,” Austin, Texas, March 4, 2014

2010 Global Education for the 21st Century Conference, Rockford, IL, June 2010 “PBL Partnerships that Foster 21st Century Learning Skills”

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Annual Conference, San Francisco, March 2003, "Problem-Based Learning: A Panel Discussion" and “Straight but Not Narrow: The Case for Straight Allies to Keep Schools Safe”

Illinois Computing Educators Annual Conference, St. Charles, Illinois, February 2003, “Handhelds and High School: From Concept to Classroom

AutoDesk “Kids Who Know and Do” Conference, San Francisco, March 2003, “Transforming Attitudes: PBL and Service”

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, March 1998, "Zen and the Art of Professional Development"

National Council of Teachers of English Fall Conference, Detroit, Michigan, November 1997, "Huck Finn Meets Lawrence Kohlberg: How Literature Illuminates Our Paths"

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Annual Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, March 1997, featured speaker with "Problem-Based Learning: A Showcase for a New Vision" plus "Problem-Based Learning: A Panel Discussion"

Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development/Illinois Association of Teacher Educators Joint Conference, Naperville, Illinois, September 1997, "Zen and the Art of Professional Development"

Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Action Research Conference, Naperville, Illinois, September 1997, featured speaker: "Action Research at the Secondary Level"

Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development "Step Out of the Box" Conference, Oakbrook, Illinois, March 1996, "Project OMEGA and Problem-Based Learning"

Illinois Association of Teacher of English, Fall Conference, Champaign, Illinois, October 1995, "Weaving a Writing Workshop into an Already Packed Curriculum"

National Council of Teachers of English Fall Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, November 1992, "Computers, Collaboration, and Composition"

HISED Conference, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, April 1992, "Hidden Voices: Creative Writing in Special Education"

National Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, March, 1992, "Poetry and Technology: No Oxymoron Here!"

North Shore Writing Consortium, Schaumburg, Illinois, March, 1992, "Hidden Voices: Creative Writing in Special Education"

West Suburban Writing Consortium, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, February 1992, "Page to Stage: an Annual Celebration of Student Writing"

HISED Conference, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, April 1991, "Page to Stage: an Annual Celebration of Student Writing"

National Council of Teachers of English Spring Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 1991, "Providing Real Audiences for our Student Writers"

PARTICIPANT IN DISTRICT WORK

Member of District Technology and Staff Development Committees, 1999-2004

Member of Building Technology Committee, 1999-2004

Member of Multicultural Task Force (District and Building)

Member of District Strategic Plan Implementation Team

Member of District #87 Tracking Committee, Co-author of report, 1990-1992

Glenbard Education Association: Building Chair and Member of Executive Board, 1989-1991

WRITER

Author, "Tales Told Out of School: Lessons Learned by the Teacher", published 2022

Author, Professional Development Materials, TeacherMatch
[now part of PowerSchool, 2012-2018]

Author, Illinois Innovation Talent Problem
Booklet and Summary Report, 2008-2009

Grant writer for District 87, 1/94-6/95

Writing with Microsoft Works on the Macintosh,South-Western, 1994

Writing with AppleWorks: Better Writing Made Easier,South-Western, 1992

"Students Hired by High-Power Chicago Law Firm,"
IASCD Update, February/March 1999

"Problem-Based Learning: Connecting Students to American Literature,"
The Problem Log, Winter 1998

"Summer Sleuths: Investigating Problem-Based Learning and Scientific Literacy,"
Illinois School Research and Development Journal, Spring, 1997

"Project OMEGA: A Winning Approach for At-risk Teens,"
Illinois School Research and Development Journal, Fall, 1996

"Real Audience? We Take It from the Page to the Stage!"
English Journal , February 1993

"Don't Tell Them I Wrote That! Hidden Voices in Special Ed. English" (with Mary Kaminsky), Illinois English Bulletin , Spring 1993

"Tracking: A Rebuttal," English Journal, December 1990

"Reading's Fun -- Pass It On," Ideas Plus, Book Three, NCTE, 1985

Founder of and contributor to Glenbard West Basic Council Newsletter

Author, district curriculum:
Sophomore Basic, Honors Sequence, Comm-Tech, English 3

Illinois Writing Project training, Basic and Advanced (Leadership, 8/92)

Co-author of Nucleonics/Writing to Learn project, 1987

COLLABORATOR WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION

Co-teacher in a program using integrated service delivery, 1996-1999

Visiting co-teacher in a self-contained setting, 1990-1991

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING LEADER

Facilitator, IMSA PBL Initiatives, 2008-2011

Associate, Center for Problem-Based Learning,
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Member of the Faculty, Harris Institute for Problem-Based Learning,
1997-99 and 2001

Member of Illinois Problem-Based Learning Network, 1995-

PBL Trainer/Staff Developer, District #87 and Niles North High School, Skokie, IL

Developer and Teacher of "Problem-Based Communications and Technology"

Regular contributor to The Problem Log, ASCD's PBL Network newsletter

MEMBER OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1988-2010

Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1992-2010

Illinois Staff Development Council, 1997-2002

National Council of Teachers of English, 1971-1975 and 1980-2004

Illinois Association of Teachers of English, 1980-2004

International Reading Association, 1977-1980

EXPERIENCED TEACHER

State of Illinois Master Teacher, 1984

Glenbard West High School, Glen Ellyn, IL, English and Reading, 1980-2004

Batavia High School, Batavia, IL, English and Reading, 1979-1980

North Haven High School, North Haven, CT, English, January-June, 1979

Orchard Hill Junior High School, North Haven, CT, Title I Reading, August 1978 - January 1979 and April-June, 1978

EDUCATION

Fifty-eight graduate hours (post-Master's)

Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven: M.S. in Reading, December, 1978

University of Wisconsin, Madison: B.S. in English and Education with Honors, January, 1970

REFERENCES

Deborah Gerdes, retired, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; ddgerdes@comcast.net

Audris Griffith, former Principal, Deerfield High School, 1959 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield, IL 60015; [previously Assistant Principal for Curriculum at Glenbard West High School], audrisgriffith@gmail.com