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Jelani Jabari, Ph.D., has had a stellar career in the educational field for more than seventeen years. Jelani has served as teacher, teacher coach, curriculum leader, university instructor, and performed consulting services with the State of Michigan. His exemplary work in the field has afforded him opportunities to present at national conferences such as National Staff Development Council, National Middle School Association, International Society for Technology in Education (I.S.T.E.), Ubiquitous Mobile Learning Tools, and many professional conferences.
His areas of expertise include:
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Assessment practices which enhance learning
- Developing and delivering highly engaging lessons
- Using data to achieve targeted outcomes
- Creating effective organizational management processes in the classroom.
Annena McClesky, M.A., has been influential in changing the face of literacy through implementing successful literacy intiatives throughout the State of Michigan. She has served as the Director of the Regional Literacy Training Center for Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA), State of Michigan committee member for the Common Core Reading Standards, Regional Trainer with the Michigan Department of education and in many other capacities. Courses she currently teaches include: Assessment and Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners, Language Literacy, and Learning, and Developmental Reading Comprehension. Annena has been recognized for:
- Her service as past president of the Michigan Reading Association
- Coordinating the development and implementation of Wayne RESA's Trainer of Trainer's professional development series
- Co-designing the 2009 Education Excellence award-winning Staff Development Series entitled "Special Education Literacy Connection (S.E.L.C.T.)" sponsored by the Michigan Association of School Boards
- Facilitating on-going support for curriculum directors and principals ensuring a smooth implementation of literacy programs
- Planning and supporting literacy learning for special education teachers working with students needing long-term interventions.
Annena has a keen ability of being able to energize teachers to develop motivation, will, and skill to work effectively in meeting the needs of each student.
Barbara Hill, M.A., has had an exceptional career which has spanned more than fifteen years. This doctoral candidate is recognized as one of the premier writing specialists in the region. While in the classroom, Barbara created an optimal learning environment for students through implementing critical literacy, content area literacy practices, and reflective pedagogy. Her professional accomplishments include:
- Co-writing Awakening a Community of Writers, a series which served as the writing model for high-priority K-8 schools
- Improving writing in more than a dozen High Priority Schools.
- Infusing ELA co-planning and co-teaching models
- Obtaining and using baseline data to measure writing achievement
- Developing writing communities
- Recognition as 6 + 1 Writing Traits Expert
- Conducting interactive professional development which lifts metacognition
Patricia Rushing, Ed.S., is known for her ability to implement highly effective Response to Intervention (R.T.I.) systems characterized by high quality instruction, assessment, and evidence-based intervention. In her capacity as a former Supervisor of Special Education Programs, she supported students, teachers, and parents in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder program in a stellar fashion. Patricia has been recognized for the following:
- Co-designing (with Wayne State University) the "Pathways" program, a program designed to assist teachers with obtaining their special education endorsement
- Developing of a handbook of instructional strategies for teachers in the early childhood classrooms
- Facilitating the organizational management of instructional co-teaching staff in inclusive classroom settings
- Determining appropriate assessment tools which align with classroom instructional practices
Elsie Babcock, M.A., has developed a strong reputation for assisting teachers in teaching math for student understanding. Among her other duties, she is a full-time University lecturer who has delivered several mathematics courses for pre and post-service teachers. Elsie is also known for:
- Developing unique instructional techniques which greatly enhance student conceptual mastery
- Supporting the integration of technology, content software and management systems into classrooms
- Her contributions to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Mathematics Advisory Committee
- Well-written items for the M.E.A.P. standardized test
- Service as a past president of the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Shomari Jabulani, Ph.D., has a keen ability for designing mathematics and science lessons which greatly enhance content mastery. He contributed greatly as a chemical process engineer in the semi-conductor electronics field. Shomari has earned notoriety for the following:
- Contributing author to Linking Science & Literacy in the K-8 Classroom
- Strategically enhancing students' scientific literacy
- Facilitating highly-competitive student robotics team
- Enhancing teachers' pedagogical practices as math and science instructional coach
Paula S. Duren, Ph.D., has over 25 years of extensive experience in all aspects of human resources and organizational consultation with expertise in executive coaching, directing organizational change initiatives, team development, multicultural leadership development, and strategic planning. She is a certified facilitator of the following programs:
- Seven Habits Training
- True Colors Assessments
- Framework for Poverty.
Paula has teamed with manufacturing, health care, utilities, food services, airports and other industries to coach executive teams, designed employee surveys and developed and implemented training programs. Other client organizations have utilized Duren’s consultative expertise in crisis situations as well as in long-term leadership, and organizational performance planning.
Peggy Thomas, M.Ed., has enjoyed an exemplary career in education for more than 30 years. For more than 21 years, she was a high school teacher and department head. She was Social Studies Supervisor at the central office level for ten years. Peggy has extensive experience in the following:
- Development of curriculum (middle and high school social studies)
- Evaluating/monitoring effective teaching performance
- Development of professional development for teachers and administrators
- Evaluation of instructional materials and resources.
- Data analysis (of MEAP/MME)
Her professional contributions include:
- Member of the state of Michigan MEAP/HST Range-finding Committee and the GLCE (Grade Level Content Expectations) Committee.
- Development of the MEAP/HST Scoring for Persuasive Essay Writing
- Development of a Social Studies High School Exit Exam
Judith Ableser, Ph.D., has greater than 30 years of exceptional experience in education. She is a university researcher, accomplished author, and expert in designing and implementing sound educational pedagogy. She has a stellar teaching record given the dozens of undergraduate and graduate courses taught in the college of education.
Her recently published work includes:
- Integrating Developmentally Appropriate Authentic Literacy Experiences to Teach and Support Young Children During Times of Violence and Stress
- Life Beyond Multiple Choice Tests: Alternative and Authentic Assessment
Judy's areas of expertise include:
- Differentiating instructional practices
- Adapting educational settings, inclusion, I.E.P.
- Early and emergent literacy
- Currriculum mapping and design
Tony Ingram, Ph.D. , has more than 30 years of excellence in education. He has extensive experience in the following:
- Supervisory and Leadership Training
- Diversity
- Human resource development.
Tony is completing his 15th year as Dean of Academic & Student Services at Oakland Community College Farmington Hills, Michigan. He has previously served as adjunct Graduate Professor at Lawrence Technological University, Assistant Professor at the University of Detroit-Mercy, and taught courses at Eastern Michigan University.
