Welcome (Back) to the Literacy Booth

Welcome, Friends and Colleagues.

You've found The Literacy Booth, a blog by Wisconsin educators working as literacy coaches. Posts feature honest reflection, learning, and knowledge about both literacy and coaching.

I (Barb Novak) moderate the blog. I handle technical things and occasionally share my thinking. The real work and thinking, though, comes from the literacy coaches pictured above who bravely and honestly write about their practice.

Here's how it works (generally):

• There will be a new post several times a week. There are no rules or specific topics; each coach writes about something that is on her mind.
• Each post will be open to readers' comments. The conversation that happens in your comments will make this a true professional learning community. Please, please, please comment! Comment to share links to resources. Comment to ask questions. Comment to continue the conversation.

You can visit the blog regularly to read posts. You could also sign up for email updates using the link in the right sidebar. You can read every post, or you can use the tags in the right sidebar to read posts from coaches doing work similar to yours.

Meet the Coaches:

• Andrea Reichenberger: District Literacy Coordinator (4K-12), Ashwaubenon
• Barb Novak: Literacy  Consultant, Wisconsin DPI
• Carrie Sand: Literacy Specialist, Mishicot
• Diane Jenquin: Sevastopol
• Heather Zimmerman: Literacy Coach, Middle School, Oshkosh
• Jaimie Howe: Intervention Specialist, Menomonie
• Julie Schwarzbauer: K - 2 District Literacy Coach, Appleton
• Lisa Weiss: Secondary (6-12) Literacy Coordinator, Oshkosh
• Maggie Schumacher: Literacy Coach/Reading Specialist, Middle School, Baraboo
• Meghan Retallick: Literacy Coach/Reading Specialist, primarily grades 4-12, Rhinelander
• Sharon Seely: Instructional Coach, K - 5, Tomah

Bio: Carrie Sand

Carrie is a Literacy Specialist for the School District of Mishicot. Her job role includes part classroom teacher, part interventionist, part literacy coach, which in her mind is the best of all worlds. Her work with literacy includes a unique passion for the incorporation of technology, which has led to numerous speaking opportunities around the state. In 2012, as a credit to the incredible literacy work of her district, Carrie was awarded the Herb Kohl Fellowship Teaching Award. Her three most powerful reading moments were: the day her high school English teacher introduced her to e.e. cummings, the first time she ever read Freak the Mighty with her seventh grade students, and watching her two young boys discover reading.

Bio: Barb Novak

Barb Novak is a literacy consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) where she works collaboratively around standards, instruction, and assessment of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language.

Barb is a proud believer in and product of Wisconsin's public schools. She attended public schools from kindergarten through graduate programs in Hales Corners, Eau Claire, Stevens Point, Oshkosh, and Madison. Before beginning her employment at DPI in 2012, Barb served for ten years as a classroom teacher, interventionist, and literacy coach for public schools in Chilton, Oshkosh, and Menasha.

Besides learning and talking about literacy, Barb enjoys traveling, laughing, reading, cooking, drinking coffee, and scheming.

Bio: Meghan Retallick

"Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher."--Japanese Proverb

Meghan is beginning her second year as a reading specialist/literacy coach for the School District of Rhinelander, working primarily with students and staff in grades 4-12.  Prior to this position, Meghan spent seven years as a classroom teacher working in several districts in Wisconsin teaching English/Language Arts in grades 6-12.  One of her favorite successes as a teacher was taking something many consider "boring" and making it relevant and engaging for students. One of her favorite aspects of her role as a reading specialist is being involved in collaboration between teachers and administrators to further learning to better instruct all students.   She is influenced greatly by the work of Jim Burke, Jeff Anderson, Barbara Marinak, and Linda Christansen when it comes to best practices in the teaching of reading and language arts.  Meghan is also very inspired by the work of Cathy Toll and Andy Hargreaves about coaching, leadership, and promoting change in education.

On a personal note, Meghan is a wife and mom, happily raising two daughters (ages six and four) in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.  She loves music, reading, theater, yoga, football, hockey, and the outdoors.  Meghan believes in working to live a balanced life and enjoying the little things.

Bio: Julie Schwartzbauer

Julie Schwartzbauer is beginning her fifth year working for the Appleton Area School District as the K-2 District Literacy Coach.  She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.  She first received her Bachelor Degree in Psychology, knowing she always wanted to work with children.  Julie was later inspired by professor to pursue a career in teaching.   She received her Early Childhood license followed by her Master’s Degree in Reading from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

After staying home to raise her family, Julie became employed by the Menasha Joint School District.  It was there that she received training in Reading Recovery and began working as a Literacy Coach.  Now in Appleton, Julie still remains a strong advocate for Reading Recovery.

In her current role, Julie services 16 elementary schools as the District Literacy Coach.  She works to support building coaches and teaching staff.  She could not do all of this important work without her supportive colleagues, and family.

Julie has recently earned her license in Administration and Supervision.

When Julie does not have her nose in a professional resource, she is spending time up North boating and relaxing with her three children and husband.

Bio: Lisa Weiss

Over the past 20 years in education I have had opportunities galore. I’ve been a second grade teacher, a middle school reading teacher, an at-risk teacher, an elementary reading specialist/Title I teacher, a middle school literacy coach, a high school literacy coach, a K-12 literacy coordinator, and I currently am a secondary (6-12) literacy coordinator in the Oshkosh Area School District.

It’s been a fascinating journey—risks were taken, hairs greyed, tough lessons were learned about the value I place on my philosophies and belief system around teaching and learning. I’m grateful for the struggles and successes, for the people who were in my path to pose challenges, and to those were there to support me through them. All of the situations contributed to the learning that has prepared me for the work I am engaged in now—and hopefully will remain in for a long time!

I can’t write about myself without writing about my unnatural love of the Fox Valley Writing Project, in which I serve as the Co-Director and the Coordinator of Professional Development. 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.

Bio: Andrea Reichenberger

Andrea Reichenberger is the District Literacy Coordinator (4K-12) for the Ashwaubenon School District.  In her past life she was an Instructional Literacy Coach and 6-12 English/Language Arts Coordinator for the Menasha Joint School District. She has worked with students and teachers PK-12 and began her career as an elementary library media specialist and spent 13 years as a middle school English/Language Arts teacher and teacher leader.  Because she loves learning, she prides herself in the professional learning network she has created as she is connected with some of the smartest people in education, not only in the Fox Valley, but also across the state. They inspire and continue to push her so she can be better for all kids.  Andrea is also a member of WSRA, ASCD, WASCD, NCTE, ILA, and AWSA and most recently experienced the pure joy of the Fox Valley Writing Project. She is also an adjunct instructor for Concordia University and does consulting work for area districts.

Andrea is very proud of the fact that she shares a birthday with Elvis, as she is a huge fan, but has yet to visit Graceland. Making the trip is on her bucket list. She loves to read, shop, walk/jog (more walking then jogging), and watch clever television. Andrea lives in Appleton with her husband and two tween daughters, who are also readers. Phew!

Some of Andrea’s favorite educational minds (i.e. Rock Stars/Professional Crushes)  include:  Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey, Kelly Gallagher, Cris Tovani, Penny Kittle, Jim Burke, Rick Wormeli, Jeff Zwiers, Jim Knight, Peter Johnston, Doug Buehl, Sarah Brown Wessling, Donalyn Miller, Myron Dueck, and Peter DeWitt.