Classroom positions

I have taught third grade through college students and adults; created lessons to meet the needs of diverse learners; built team as grade-level chair; served as lab classroom for teachers to visit; elected to school and regional leadership teams; served on intervention team; published school newspaper; supervised summer curriculum writing team.

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte, NC, 1979-93:Intermediate Teacher or Chapter 1 Teacher: Hornets Nest Elementary, Dilworth Elementary, Tryon Hills Elementary, Hidden Valley Elementary, First Ward Elementary, Thomasboro Elementary. 
• South-Western City Schools, Grove City, Ohio, 1976-79: 3rd/4th grade, Kingston Elementary; 7th/8th grade, Language Arts, Park Street Middle School.
• West Seneca Central Schools, Buffalo, NY, 1974-76: 5th grade, Ebenezer Elementary School, West Seneca, NY, 1974-1976.

College-level positions

• Teacher Research Co-Director, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Writing Project, 1998-present.
• Adjunct Reading Professor, READ 6474-003, Advanced Practicum in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, spring 2008.
• Co-Director of Summer Writing Institute, National Writing Project at UNC Charlotte, 1996-2000, 2002, 2005-07. 
• Co-Director for Presenters’ Collaborative, the National Writing Project at UNC Charlotte, 2003-2007.
• Co-Teacher of course Writing for Reading Majors, with Dr. Lilian Brannon, Reading Department, Read 6252, 2001.
• Adjunct Writing Professor, UNC Charlotte, "Introduction to the Writing Process," 1985. 
• Writing Researcher, First Ward Elementary research site, UNC Charlotte Writing Project, 1984. 

Literacy facilitator for N.C. public schools

Much of what I offer today as an educational consultant, and how I present it, grew out my decade of work as a literacy facilitator in N.C. public schools. In this position I collaborated with principal and administrative teams, teachers, and staff to coordinate efforts to best serve students, improve performance, and make goals.

Typical responsibilities included: matched data, information and resources with teachers and students in need; assessed and taught teachers to assess students’ needs; analyzed formative and summative assessment data with teachers; modeled in classrooms; observed teachers upon request; supervised and placed assistants; supervised after-school teachers and created sessions for remediation; provided new-teacher and assistant support; taught volunteer workshops and maintained volunteer schedules; published a newsletter of best-practices, teaching ideas; supported portfolio development; advised leadership team (FLT); broadcast a weekly closed-circuit television spot highlighting students and teachers’ innovations; attended conferences and read widely to support 21st century teaching and learning; and maintained central storage.

• W.M. Irvin Elementary, Cabarrus County Schools, NC: Title One Intermediate Lead Teacher and Literacy Facilitator for 17 teachers; supervised 12 literacy assistants; Principal Dr. Katherine (Kelly) Propst, 2002-2007.
• Nathaniel Alexander Elementary at the Governor's Village, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC: Literacy Facilitator for 40 teachers and 12 literacy assistants; Principal Nancy Hicks; 1996 - 2002.
• Hornets Nest Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC: Literacy Specialist; Principal Vencie Dunham, 1994-1996.

A resource for people passionate about helping students write well, compiled by Karen Haag

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Helping others learn has been my passion since I stepped into my first classroom, at Ebenezer Elementary School in West Seneca, N.Y., in 1974.

My daily walk

Most of my students at Ebenezer School walked to school daily, and so did I. Snow? So what. This is Buffalo!