Welcome to our Blog!

At the start 2014-2015 school year, District 200 brought all the instructional coaches together as a PLC. We are housed at Woodstock North High School but we will be working with teachers and administrators across the district.  Working together, as coaches, allows us to build our coaching skills  and promote collaboration across disciplines.  This increases understanding and implementation for us and ultimately, the teachers whom we coach. However, the question remains: Who are we?

Nancy Buckingham I joined District 200 in the 2013-14 school year as a Literacy Coach, primarily at Dean and Prairiewood.  Before coming to Woodstock,
I was a classroom teacher at the Elementary level in a Multiage 1-2 classroom, 3rd grade, and 4th, as well as Special Education at the high school level.  After receiving my Reading Specialist Certificate, I provided reading interventions for intermediate students.  I also have been trained in Reading Recovery for 1st grade students.

  

Melinda Etnyre- I am the K-5 Instructional Coach for the Physical Education Program. My B.A. from Luther College is in Health Education and my M.S. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from NIU.  I have worked as a health educator in the public health field and in the Motor Development Research Lab at NIU.  After coming to Woodstock, I taught P.E. for 7 years at Verda Dierzen, 3 years at Westwood, and 4 years at Olson.  

Marivi Galera- I have taught for 17 years in dual/bilingual programs,12 of them in Spain and the last 5 years at Olson Elementary School. My current position is bilingual Response to Intervention coach for the district. I provide RTI support for our K-5 buildings as well as supporting Woodstock Dual Language Program in very different ways. I received my bachelor degree in Elementary education with major in foreign languages in Spain. I received my endorsement in bilingual/ESL education through Aurora University. I am currently working towards my Master’s degree in Reading through Aurora University and my Master’s degree in English Language and Literature through Universidad a Distancia (Spain).

Courtney Heeren- I am the Response to Intervention coach for the district. I provide support to our K-8 buildings with RTI and this year will have a focus on literacy at our two middle school buildings. I have been in the district for 12 years and also attended D200 as a student. I received my undergrad degree in elementary education from Illinois State University and a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction from National Louis University. Last year, I received a degree as a reading specialist from Aurora University. Over the years I have taught first, third, and eighth grades in the district.

Kristen Sauber- I am the K-12 district literacy technology coach.  I am primarily working with the 1:1 pilot teachers across the district.  Before my current position, I was an elementary teacher at Westwood for 16 years, teaching 1st through 5th grades.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University and I received my Master’s Degree in reading as well as my reading specialist’s certificate from Northern Illinois University.  

Katie Vazquez - I am the Bilingual Instructional Facilitator

Sarah Wargaski - My current position is Elementary Math Coach in D200, and I am also a Project GLAD coach. Before leaving the classroom for this new role, I taught at the middle and high school levels. My background is mathematics and I have endorsements in Science and English as a Second Language. I am a Tier IV GLAD Consultant and I am currently working towards a second Master’s degree in the area of Educational Leadership.

Patti Williams, Curriculum Facilitator for Special Education

Over the years, I have worked in a variety of positions in District 200 including associate, resource teacher, and RtI coach.  I strongly believe in the potential of all students.  

“All students can learn and succeed, but not on the same day in the same way,”

William G. Spady.