Bio: Lisa Weiss

I joke that I cannot hold a job. In my 18 years in education I have had many opportunities. I’ve been a second grade teacher, a middle school teacher, an elementary reading specialist/Title I teacher, a middle school literacy coach, and a high school literacy coach. It’s been a fascinating journey—one in which, at some point I remember saying to myself, you need to settle into one role. All this moving is crazy! It’s good crazy because I learned a lot moving to new buildings and levels, but crazy none-the-less. Looking back, the journey seems to be a bit of a happy accident. All of these experiences were critical in preparing me for my current role, but I was unaware of the endpoint as I worked my way through the system. I am currently a K-12 literacy coordinator. In addition to my day job, I co-direct the Fox Valley Writing Project, providing professional development for teachers in the area. The work of the Project is much like coaching: it is exhausting and simultaneously energizing! I credit the FVWP for the development of my professional life--bursting with gratitude over all of the opportunities and learning National Writing Project has offered me. I am a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of reading: three year olds to adolescence. I credit the FVWP and UWO Reading Department for providing me with the knowledge, insights, and self-reflection abilities that the Boards require. This was an interesting endeavor, and one that I am glad I pursued. It was not a collaborative for me like it is for some people, but rather introspective and reflective. It required a very different type of writing than I prefer, but it was a good challenge at the time. Speaking of writing…I want to be a writer when I grow up. I’m a magnet for odd occurrences so I have a few memoirs in me. If only I had the time to write them… Who knows? Perhaps one day, I can add that to my list of credentials. A girl can dream.