GrowVT-ED Academy - GrowVT-Ed Faculty and Content Coaches

Dr. Juliette Longchamp, NBCT, Director of Professional Programs, Vermont-NEA
Email: jlongchamp@vtnea.org; (She/Her/Hers)

Juliette is a life-long educator, in the classroom for 30 years and supporting professional learning in schools since 2013 through her work at Vermont-NEA. The last twenty-five years teaching was in Williston, VT, where she was one of the founders of the Swift House Team. Swift House, with its first year in 1991, empowered students with project-based learning, personal learning plans, self-assessment in proficiency-based learning and strong connections with students and families. Swift House continues and I encourage all Middle School GrowVT-Ed candidates to spend a day talking to the fabulous educators on the team; Lisa Bisbee, Amy Skapof, Amanda Laberge, Debbie Donnelley, and Kevin Hunt. Juliette has been supporting Peer Review candidates for decades, but the last six years more formally through the course "Reflective Practitioner and the Peer Review Portfolio." GrowVT-Ed Academy builds on this experience to include intentionally designed seminars addressing competencies, utilizing board-certified practitioners.

Certifications: K-8 Special Education; K-6 Elementary Education; Middle School with endorsements in Science, Social Studies, English/Language Arts and Mathematics. National Board Certification: Early Adolescence Generalist (2002, 2012, 2022); Danielson Framework Specialist (2020 to present)

Education: Ed.D University of Vermont; MA Teachers College, Columbia University; BS University of Vermont

Educational Interests: Project-based learning, Assessment for Student Learning, Curriculum Design that allows for student agency, Mentoring and Coaching, Intellectually Engaging Students in Learning

Outside Interests: Hiking, Golfing, Swimming, Reading, Playing with my very silly brown standard poodle, Charly, and watching the Yankees!

Barbie Collette, M.Ed., NBCT, Program Coordinator for 23-24 School Year

Email: bcollettegve@gmail.com (she/her/hers)

Barbie has been a Special Educator in the state of Vermont since 2010. She has worked with K-8 students and their families in Addison Central School District, where she’s been fortunate to learn and grow her skills in an environment of collaborative teaming with students and families, teachers, administrators and paraeducators, and related service providers. Most recently she has served as Literacy Interventionist in the Middlebury Union Middle School. For the past seven years, Barbie has also worked with students and their families living abroad, as an Educational Consultant for International Diagnostic Solutions. She is passionate about intentional goal setting; pursuing best outcomes that consider the individual needs of each student, and providing meaningful access to quality instruction for all students. She is a current Ph.D. student at the University of Vermont.

Certifications: Grades k-8 Special Educator National Board Certification: Exceptional Needs Specialist, Early Childhood Through Young Adulthood; International Baccalaureate Level 2 Certified/Math, Wilson Reading System

Education: M.Ed., University of Vermont; B.S., Emerson College

Educational Interests: Assessment. Literacy programming for students with reading disabilities, building fluency and automaticity to support comprehension, vocabulary instruction. Social communication intervention for students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Disorders or Emotional Disturbance. Collaborative teaming, professional development for paraprofessionals, community based learning, creating equitable and safe schools.

Outside Interests: Barbie's favorite things include: traveling anywhere!, walking in cities, boating on Lake Champlain, used record stores, yoga, campfires and coffee.

Vasanthi Meyette, M Ed., NBCT -Shelburne Community School 5th and 6th Grade Science Teacher (She/Her/Hers) Content Coach

Vasanthi Meyette is currently working as a 5th and 6th grade Science teacher at Shelburne Community School. Over the past 20 years, she has found herself teaching in grades K-6 and has experience teaching all content areas. She has been a mentor of both student teachers and new teachers to CVSD for over ten years. She values relationships, integrated curriculum, and community connections.

Certifications: K-6 Elementary Education; National Board Certification: Middle Childhood Generalist (2020)

Education: MA, University of Vermont; BA, University of Vermont

Educational Interests: Developing and facilitating integrated units of study, Cooperative Group projects, Utilizing picture books and middle grade novels across content areas, and mentoring my students and colleagues.

Outside Interests: Hiking, walking, traveling, cooking and gardening.....and watching my children navigate life!

Dr. Kristina Hansen, NBCT , Mill River Union High School, Dean of Students (she/her/hers) Content Coach

Kris believes that to thrive within education, we need to continue to learn as well as share that learning with others. Kris earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a research focus on the causes of teacher burnout and the moderating factors of resilience and positivity. After spending her first two years as a teacher in Connecticut, Kris spent 25 years as an ELA and alternative learning teacher at Mt. Anthony Union High School in Bennington. She is currently the Dean of Students at Mill River in Clarendon.

Certifications: Grades 7-12 English National Board Certification (2005, 2015) Adolescence through Young Adulthood English Language Arts; Strategic Instruction/Content Enhancement Trainer through KU-CRL; Appreciate Living Learning Circle Coach

Education: Ed.D. Southern New Hampshire University; MS Southern Connecticut State University; BA Western Connecticut State University

Educational Interests: Project-based Learning, proficiency-based learning, culturally responsive practice, interdisciplinary instruction, mentoring and coaching, resilience, organizational innovation.

Outside Interests: Seeing live music, listening to and collecting vinyl records, reading, podcasts, knitting, spoiling her rescued pets.

Josepha Austin, NBCT, Special Educator, Burlington High School (she/her/hers) Content Coach

Certifications: Grades k-21 Special Education Consulting Teacher; Grades k-21 Special Educator, National Board Certification (2017)

Education: BFA Rhode Island School of Design, MA St. Michael's College - Consulting Teacher

Educational Interests: Supporting students with learning challenges access classroom instruction, Art integration in general education instruction, resiliency and childhood trauma, transitioning students with intensive special needs to the world outside of school including the creation of the school cafe, and restorative practices in the classroom.

Outside Interests: Volunteering with the South Burlington Community Justice Center, working with the my springer spaniel as a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dogs of Vermont, hiking, gardening, and traveling, especially with my two sisters!

Elizabeth (Lili) Foster, Ms. Ed. Leadership, NBCT (She/Her/Hers), PK/Elementary Content Coach

Lili has been a teacher at Salisbury Community School in Salisbury, Vermont since 1991. She taught third and fourth grade for 30 years and is currently the academic interventionist for K-5 grade. She has been involved in math and literacy leadership for over 20 years. She has a passion for elementary math instruction, participated in the Math Best Practice Training in ACSD, and has worked as a Math Trainer for the Math Learning Center, training teachers throughout the country in the Bridges Math Curriculum. She also has a Literacy Specialist Endorsement and is Orton Gillingham trained.

Certifications: Elementary Education K-6, Special Education K-8, Specialized Literacy Professional, Pre-K-6, National Board Certification: Early and Middle Childhood Literacy: Reading-Language Arts, Orton Gillingham Comprehensive and Intermediate Training.

Education Interest: Science of Reading, Literacy and Language Arts Best Practices, Math Best Practices, Evidence-based Intervention

Education: M.Ed., University of Vermont, B.S., University of Vermont

Outside Interests: Biking, Running, Kayaking, Hiking/Snowshoeing, spending time with her family and her Golden Retriever.

Rachel Luks Petraska, M.S. Shelburne Community School, School Counselor, grades 6-8 (She/Her/Hers) School Counselor Content Coach

Rachel has been working in the education field for more than 25 years as a teacher and school counselor. She is currently working as the school counselor for grades 6-8 at Shelburne Community School. Her work includes serving as an adjunct professor and internship supervisor at the University of Vermont. Rachel has served on a VT AOE Results Oriented Program Approval (ROPA) Review Team, to review masters-level educational programs in Vermont and a review and revision panel for the VT school counseling endorsement. Over the last two years, Rachel worked with peers across the state on an ad-hoc committee to bring a comprehensive school counseling framework to VT.

Certifications: PK-12 School Counseling Education: BS, University of Vermont; MS, University of Vermont

Educational Interests: Student mentoring programs, flexible pathways, restorative practices, mentoring colleagues.

Outside Interests: Walking, exploring the mountains of Vermont, training our new puppy, and spending time with friends and family.

Jenn Larocque, M.Ed., NBCT -(She/Her/Hers) Classroom Teacher, Elementary Content Coach

Jenn Larocque is currently working as a 2/3 multiage classroom teacher at Salisbury Community School in Salisbury, Vermont. For the last 18 years she has also worked as a curriculum consultant for The Math Learning Center, running new teacher training across the nation. Over the past 20 years, she has taught second, third and fourth grades, worked as a literacy interventionist, mentor teacher, and district math leader. She values relationships, her family, intentional instruction, and humor.

Certifications: K-6 Elementary Education; National Board Certification: Middle Childhood Generalist (2018), Literacy Specialist Certification (2022)

Education: MA, University of Vermont; BA, Castleton State College

Educational Interests: Progress monitoring and using data to inform instruction. Collaborating with colleagues and integrating phonics, reading and writing instruction.

Outside Interests: I love listening to podcasts, spending time with my family, playing card games, and unplugging at our remote camp.

Katie McDougall, M Ed., NBCT -Rutland Town School, 7th and 8th Grade Science Teacher, Science Content Coach

Katie McDougall is currently teaching 7th and 8th grade Science at Rutland Town School. In addition to teaching science, Katie enjoys coaching middle school girls soccer and basketball, as well as co-facilitating the middle school student council. At her previous school, she led her middle school science department and mentored several new science teachers. Katie finds it most rewarding to work on a middle school team that focuses on wrap-around support for students, both academically and social-emotionally.

Certifications: 5-9 General Science; National Board Certification: Science Early Adolescence

Education: M.Ed, St. Lawrence University; BS, St. Lawrence University

Educational Interests: 3D printing, block coding, integrating non-fiction into science curriculum, real world inquiry projects, community connections

Outside Interests: Gardening, kayaking, reading and spending time with my family.

Martha Santa Maria, Shoreham Elementary School, Literacy Interventionist, English/SS Content Coach

Martha is in her second year as a literacy interventionist at Shoreham Elementary School. Prior to that, Martha was a Teacher of English at Middlebury Union Middle School for over a decade. She has served in many capacities in education, starting as a paraeducator before becoming a full-time teacher. Martha's passion (and that of her Middlebury colleagues) for ABAR practices are featured in Afrika Afeni Mills' new book, Open Windows, Open Minds - Developing Antiracist, Pro-Human Students. GrowVT-Ed participants will receive this book as part of this program.

Certifications: Social Studies, Grades 5-12, and ELA, Grades 5-9; National Board Certification: English Language Arts-Early Adolescence (2017)

Education: BS Trinity College, MAT Union Institute and University

Educational Interests: Supporting literacy as a human right, promoting ABAR practices and policies, and strengthening our commitment to a strong public school system for all students.

Outside Interests: Spending time with my family on Lake Champlain.

Devon Morrill, MAT., NBCT--Shelburne Community School 5th- and 6th-Grade Science Teacher (She/Her/Hers) Elementary/Science Content Coach

Devon Morrill is currently working as a 5th- and 6th-grade science teacher at Shelburne Community School. Over the past 16 years, she has taught science and math in grades 5-8. She coaches cross country running, track and field, and Mathcounts at SCS, and served as the director of summer programming for six years. She values relationships, community connections, and inclusive practices.

Certifications: Middle Grades Math and Science; National Board Certification: Science/Early Adolescence (2020)

Education: MAT, University of Vermont; BS, University of Rhode Island

Educational Interests: Collaborating with community partners, math and science best practices, utilizing community and special education supports to provide equitable opportunities for both students and athletes.

Outside Interests: My family, traveling, exercise in any form, reading, bees and goats!

Tommy Hamlin, M.Ed., Physical Education Teacher, Orchard Elementary School (K-5), Physical Education Content Coach

Tommy is currently teaching Physical Education at Orchard Elementary School (K-5) in South Burlington, VT. He has experience teaching PE to learners of all ages K-12 both in public school and alternative settings. Tommy has mentored Physical Education students at UVM and peers across the school district. In 2023, he was recognized as the Elementary PE Teacher of the Year by SHAPE VT.

Certifications: K-12 Physical Education

Education: M.Ed. Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction, Post University; BS-Physical Education, Keene State College

Educational Interests: Character building. PE offers a unique opportunity for students to develop traits like confidence, resilience, empathy, and responsibility.

Outside Interests: For the past 11 years I have served part-time as an Engineer Officer in the VT Army National Guard. I own and operate a woodworking business, coach, and spend as much time as possible with my family.

Dawn Walls-Thumma, MA, NBCT (she/her), Coventry Village School, Grades 6-8 Humanities Teacher; North Country Supervisory Union Mentor Coordinator; GrowVT-Ed Content Coach

Dawn Walls-Thumma has been teaching in the humanities for thirteen years at both the middle and high school levels and is a new teacher mentor and mentoring coordinator in her supervisory union. Her passion in the classroom is for fostering democratic participation and student voice, teaching writing, and helping students navigate complex history.

Certifications: Secondary English, Middle Grades English, Middle Grades Social Studies; National Board Certification: Early Adolescent English Language Arts (2022)

Education: MA, American Public University; BA, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Educational Interests: action civics, student voice, democratic classrooms, teaching writing, teaching hard history

Outside Interests: Dawn is a published independent scholar who uses digital and quantitative humanities approaches in Tolkien and fan studies. She loves to settle in for a quiet night of reading, writing, and playing with data.