LLP 2014-15 Instructor Bios John D Auria John D Auria, Ed.D, moved from directing the Canton Public Schools as Superintendent to becoming President of Teachers21. In a career that has spanned four decades as a math teacher, guidance counselor, principal and superintendent, Dr. D Auria has worked with hundreds of school leaders around sharpening the academic focus of school teams, developing a vibrant school culture, and managing conflict in the workplace. Dr. D Auria s research focuses on the ways in which the assumptions that people hold about intelligence significantly influence their learning. His newest book, School Systems That Learn, was co-authored with Dr. Paul Ash (Corwin Press, 2012). Dr. D Auria is also the author of Ten Lessons in Leadership and Learning (2010), a helpful resource to new and experienced leaders, as well as The DNA of Leadership a curriculum for aspiring school leaders. Additionally, Dr. D Auria co-authored with Jon Saphier, How To Bring Vision to School Improvement (Research for Better Teaching, 1993). Numerous other articles include The Superintendent as Teacher, Phi Delta Kappan Online Edition, Fall, 2009; A Principal s Dilemma, jointly with Matt King in Schools: Studies in Education, University of Chicago Press, Spring, 2009; and 3 Strands Form Strong School Leadership, jointly with Jon Saphier and Matt King, National Staff Development Council, Spring, 2006. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional educational conferences and has served on The Middle School Curriculum Project based at Education Development Center. John D Auria is a Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude graduate of Boston College, where he majored in mathematics and philosophy; he earned his doctorate in urban educational leadership at the University of Massachusetts. Matt King Matt King has been the head of the Rashi School, Boston s Reform Jewish Independent School, since July of 2007. Previously he led three high-performing suburban Massachusetts school districts: superintendent of the Wellesley Public Schools (1996-2007), superintendent/principal of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (1989-1996), and superintendent/principal of the Carlisle Public Schools (1979-1989). He has published numerous articles and consulted with school administrators throughout the country on school leadership and strengthening school culture. Dr. King has taught graduate courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Wheelock College and currently teaches in the Leadership Licensure Program, a statewide program for teachers seeking to become principals run by Teachers 21, a nonprofit organization committed to systemic education reform. A graduate of Colgate University, Dr. King received an M.A.T. from Smith College and an Ed.D. from Harvard University. Patti Grenier Over the years, Patricia Grenier has mastered all domains in the education profession and is increasingly well known for her deep knowledge of curriculum development and her mastery of the craftsmanship that underpins lessons that are pedagogically sound. She is equally skilled in forming and developing high-functioning school teams. Patti has capped her career with three superintendencies, the most recent in Barnstable. Prior to these assignments, she was an Assistant Superintendent of Schools, a Director of Special Education, a principal, and teacher. Patti has been deeply involved in the development of the Leadership Licensure Program sponsored by Teachers21, the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, and the Massachusetts Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. She teaches the modules dealing with curriculum and instruction and action research. Additionally, she has taught graduate courses in interdisciplinary curriculum, alternative assessment, special education, and curriculum frameworks at Boston College, Simmons College, and Framingham State and Fitchburg State Colleges.
Patti Grenier earned a B.S. in Special Education and an M.A. in Psychology and Educational Counseling at Fitchburg State College. She was awarded the Ed.D. in Curriculum, Administration, and Special Education from Boston College. Deb Merriam Deb Merriam is a founding teacher and current Academic Dean at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens. Established by Ted and Nancy Sizer, the progressive charter school is based on the 10 Common Principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools and is known for its performance-based assessments, integrated curriculum, student-centered pedagogy, and democratic decision-making. Early in her career there, Deb taught Arts and Humanities (Integrated ELA and History/Social Studies) and oversaw the year-long independent projects that characterize the school s Senior Seminar. She started her career at the school almost two decades ago and has assumed multiple leadership roles along the way. Deb s consulting work now extends across the state and is focused on student-centered teaching and learning practices; innovative curriculum, instruction, and assessment design; teacher leadership; and nurturing professional learning communities. Deb earned an M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning at Harvard and has her principal certification. She is a trained Critical Friends Group coach, and she frequently works with teachers across the country through the Sizer Teachers Center. A magna cum laude graduate of Williams College, Deb s honors thesis was on Cooperative Learning Strategies in the Classroom. Her awards at that time included the Grosvenor Memorial Award for the student who has best demonstrated concern for the college community and beyond through extensive dedicated service and who has served with the utmost integrity and reliability, the Turner Citizenship Prize for the graduating senior who has rendered the most exemplary service to the College and to fellow students, and the Lehman Scholarship for recognition of outstanding leadership and service. Emily Parks Emily Parks is currently the Assistant Superintendent of the Westwood Public Schools. With 20 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and central office administrator, Emily brings to her work a deep understanding of the challenging conversations and work that must occur to help all students be successful. At Teachers 21, Emily consults on school leadership, school culture, program evaluation, supervision and evaluation, classroom management, and the Common Core. She is an instructor in the Leadership Licensure Program, working with aspiring principals around instructional leadership, and co-leads Teacher 21 s New Principal Institute. Additionally, she coaches school leaders and conducts sounding board/problem-solving sessions for school leadership teams. Emily has instructed undergraduate and graduate students in the MIT/Wellesley STEP program and at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is currently an adjunct professor at Boston University working with undergraduates in the teacher preparation program. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of MASCD. Emily earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard College and an Ed.M in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she was a Pforzheimer Fellow. She lives in Somerville with her husband and son. Patti DeRosa Patti DeRosa is the President and founder of her own firm, ChangeWorks Consulting. She has over twenty-five years of experience as a consultant, educator, and activist working on anti-racism, diversity, and social justice issues with education, business, health care, human services, and community and governmental organizations in the public and private sectors, with both adults and youth. She has served on the faculties of Simmons College, Boston University, Lesley University, and Teachers 21 Aspiring Superintendent and Aspiring Principal programs teaching courses on cultural proficiency, racism,
equity, and social justice, and is the author of several widely-used articles on diversity, white identity, and anti-racism. Patti has an MSW in Community Organization, Management, and Planning, an MA in African American Studies, both from Boston University, and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from SUNY-Oneonta. She is also a singer-songwriter-guitarist performing regularly both nationally and internationally. Jack Aherne Jack Aherne has over 35 years of experience as a school administrator, serving as a middle school and high school assistant principal, a high school principal, an assistant superintendent and superintendent in the Weymouth Public Schools, the Silver Lake Regional School District and the Abington Public school District. Jack holds a BS from Boston State College, a M.Ed. from Bridgewater State University, a G.A.G.S. from Northeastern University and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Jack is a coach in the New Superintendents Induction Program and an instructor in the Leadership Licensure Programs for Principals (LLP) and Superintendents (LLPS). Additionally, he serves as a Program Administrator in the PSAP/LLPS Doctoral Program at Boston College. Jack s areas of expertise are leadership coaching, school law, policy analysis, school assessment and strategic planning. Susan Naimark Susan Naimark s work in public education focuses on family and community engagement, and racial equity. Her training and consulting integrates more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit community development, grassroots leadership development, public education and racial justice organizing, She served eight years on the Boston School Committee, and is author of The Education of a White Parent: Wrestling with Race and Opportunity in the Boston Public Schools (Levellers Press, 2012). Current work focuses on capacity building to give school leaders and staff, parents, community organizations, and other institutions the tools to work productively across differences to support all students to succeed. Susan s work in public education began as a parent of children who went through the Boston Public Schools. She served as co-chair of the Boston Citywide Parent Council, co-founded the Boston Parent Organizing Network, organized parents statewide and nationally, and served as a member of the Boston School Committee. This was her volunteer work until three years ago, when she left her position as Director of National Community Building and Organizing Programs for NeighborWorks America to focus more specifically on public education. Her current work integrates the tools and experiences used by successful community organizations to build inclusive and supportive communities within schools and school systems. Susan is part-time faculty at University of Massachusetts-Boston Graduate School of Education. Her consultant work has included Cultural Proficiency training for Boston Public School staff, parent capacity-building for the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, teaching at Boston s Parent University, and national training for professional educators focused on addressing racial inequities in schools. Susan holds a B.A. in Urban and Community Studies, an M.S. in Community Economic Development, and a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution. Barbara Holland (draft) Barbara G. Holland is the President, Founder and CEO (Culturally Empowering Officer) of BreakThrough Partners, a consulting firm focusing on inclusion and diversity, organizational change, cultural competence, workforce effectiveness and workplace equity. Working with passion and in a proactive manner for over 30 years, she has a history of resultsoriented collaborations with organizations to effect long-term sustainable change. Her commitment and dynamic
leadership in helping to create culturally competent, inclusive and diverse organizations have been demonstrated through her ability to spearhead the strategic thinking, organizational action planning and implementation and continuous monitoring & feedback systems that are vital to long-term enhanced organizational performance and overall effectiveness. Through the connected experiences of thinking, doing and being, her clients are able to build and maintain a culture of respect and inclusion. Before founding BreakThrough Partners, Ms. Holland held key diversity leadership positions in education and healthcare. She was the first Director of Campus Diversity at Framingham State College for over six years and, most recently, she was the first Director of Diversity at Massachusetts General Hospital for four years. In 1987, she was selected as part of the first team of facilitators to deliver the Anti-Defamation League s World of Difference program work that she continues today. Ms. Holland is highly regarded for her unique ability to motivate and engage with students, faculty and staff of educational institutions and also with staff members at all levels of human service organizations, municipalities, healthcare systems, regional banks and Fortune 500 corporations As a strategist, she has demonstrated the ability to build meaningful partnerships with her clients and to quickly respond to changes within and around the organizational culture. Her approach effectively facilitates collaboration. This creates a more comfortable environment thereby making it easier to deal with resistance. It further challenges team members to maximize their opportunities as a part of a diverse, culturally competent and inclusive organization. Ms. Holland is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Emmanuel College and Framingham State University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses on Managing Diversity in Contemporary Organizations. Ms. Holland holds a Master s Degree in Education and Administration from Cambridge College and a Bachelor s Degree in Biology from Boston University. Julia Ojeda Julia Ojeda has over 20 years of experience as an accomplished education, social services, and healthcare executive. She has worked as an Organizational Development Specialist for cutting edge National Public School Reform. She has also worked for various organizations such as Ojeda Enterprises, The Stupski Foundation, and Sociedad Latina, Inc. implementing school reform. Dorsey Yearley Dorsey Yearley has devoted her educational career to addressing the needs of at-risk and disabled students. Her areas of interest include inclusive school practices, co-teaching, differentiated instruction, RTI, teaming, and all aspects of understanding and implementing special education laws and practices. Dorsey has been a special educator, a building based administrator and a district-wide Director of Student Services. She has also been the executive director of an educational collaborative where, in addition to her other responsibilities, she worked on developing a network of school districts with the shared mission of supporting the high achievement of students of color. In addition, Dorsey has led teams of professionals in reviewing programs and services related to special education for local public and private schools, and she has provided leadership coaching to new administrators of special education. Dorsey has a Bachelor s Degree from Wellesley College and a Master s Degree in Education from Tufts University. Christine Brumbach
Christine Brumbach is the Director of Student Development and Program Evaluation at Needham Public Schools and a consultant at Teachers21. She has a strong background in Special Education and extensive experience in implementing laws and regulations pertaining to special education. She has also worked as a professor at Brandeis University for many years.