Announcements
May 21st, 2013Catapult Learning Offers Common Core Workshops from Coast-to-Coast
written by John Fergus
Educators Across the Country Gain Insight Into What It Really Means to Implement the New Common Core State Standards
CAMDEN, NJ – Beginning in January 2013, Camden NJ-based Catapult Learning has been presenting introductory Common Core workshops specifically designed for principals and school leaders across the country. As a nationwide provider of professional development and instructional services, Catapult Learning has held 10 workshops—and counting—from New Jersey to California with as many as 100 attendees per session.
February 6th, 2013Coming to a City Near You: Common Core Leaders Workshop Series
written by Jake Zangrilli
Implementing the Common Core State Standards at Your School
Complimentary Workshops Specifically for School Leaders and Principals
The new standards require teachers to transcend their current teaching algorithms and adopt new ones. As a leader, facilitating this transformation will be challenging, but with a deeper understanding of the standards, knowledge of best practices, and quality resources at your fingertips, you will have the leverage you need to be a CCSS change agent in your school or district.
During these common core leaders workshops, the Catapult Learning Common Core Experts will teach you how to:
Support teachers as they re-conceptualize their approach to teaching and push student expectations beyond skill acquisition to application.
Utilize the progressions of learning in the Common Core to map out a clear trajectory of learning so that teachers know what students should have learned and what they will be learning next.
Structure effective standards-based planning that aligns with the Common Core and [...]
December 17th, 2012Debbie Whitfill Named Director of Educational Partnerships
written by Rachel Messina
Camden, NJ—Bruce Bierwirth, SVP of Sales for Catapult Learning, announced Debbie Whitfill has been named as Executive Director for Educational Partnership for the states of Arkansas, Kansas, North Carolina, and Missouri. In this position, Ms. Whitfill will work to expand the company’s nationally recognized intervention programs and professional development services to school districts across the state. The newly adopted Common Core State Standards serve as the structural model for Catapult Learning’s intervention solutions, training and instructional resources, and professional development solutions.
Debbie Whitfill brings 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels. During her tenure as a building principal, Debbie was responsible for the turnaround of three elementary schools, with one of her schools receiving a Title I Distinguished School Award. Following her career in public education, Debbie worked as a Senior Consultant for Literacy First, providing both professional development and coaching to schools. Debbie also [...]
December 3rd, 2012Lee Anne Housley Named Director of Educational Partnerships in the Southwest
written by Rachel Messina
Camden, NJ.—Bruce Bierwirth, SVP of Sales for Catapult Learning, announced Lee Anne Housley has been named Director of Educational Partnership for the states of Wyoming and New Mexico. In this position, Mrs. Housley will work to expand the company’s nationally recognized intervention programs and professional development services to school districts across both states. The newly adopted Common Core State Standards serve as the structural model for Catapult Learning’s intervention solutions, training and instructional resources, and professional development solutions. Mrs. Housley will also support the Directors of Educational Partnership in Texas, New York City, and the West Coast.
Lee Anne comes to Catapult Learning as a highly experienced and award-winning middle school and high school content area teacher, with additional background in sales and marketing. Her teaching specialization is in Advanced Placement Biology, as well as Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Biology I and II. Lee Anne was the recipient of Teacher [...]
November 27th, 2012Whitnee Verdi Named as Executive Director of Educational Partnership for State of California
written by John Fergus
Camden, NJ.—Bruce Bierwirth, SVP of Sales for Catapult Learning, announced Whitnee Verdi has been named as Executive Director for Educational Partnership for the state of California, as well as Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. In this position, Ms.Verdi will work to expand the company’s nationally recognized intervention programs and professional developments services to school districts across the state. The newly adopted Common Core State Standards serve as the structural model for Catapult Learning’s intervention solutions, training and instructional resources, and professional development solutions.
Whitnee Verdi brings over 10 years of classroom experience as a teacher at both the elementary and secondary levels. With a rich background in curriculum and instruction, Whitnee’s expertise is working with English Language Learners. Following her teacher career, Whitnee worked for CTB McGraw, Kaplan K12, and most recently for Bill Daggett at the International Center for Leadership in Education, helping school districts across the country with the implementation of [...]
June 26th, 2012Catapult Learning Joining Forces with NESI
written by John Fergus
Bringing Together the Leading Intervention Service Providers for K-12 Schools
New Jersey, June 26th 2012 (PRWeb)
Catapult Learning, a leading Intervention Service Provider for K-12 Schools, today announced that it has acquired NonPublic Educational Services, Inc. (NESI), a leading provider of intervention services, charter school support services, and military education and training programs.
Headquartered in Salem, MA, with offices around the country, NESI operates in over 18 states and serves over 15,000 students annually. This acquisition brings together the two largest national providers of instructional services to non-public schools and over 70 years of combined experience.
June 11th, 2012Columbus South High School Turnaround, Catapult Learning Partnership Highlighted
written by John Fergus
Columbus South High School Turnaround, Catapult Learning Partnership Highlighted
Catapult Learning is completing a year-long partnership with South High School in Columbus, OH. As part of this partnership, the Catapult team provided instruction to reengage freshman and sophomores, we launched a schoolwide reading program and school climate improvement initiative, provided extensive job-embedded coaching and professional development support to reengage teachers and instructional leaders, and hosted monthly parent involvement seminars to reengage families.
Catapult Learning’s efforts at South High are highlighted below in a recent feature article from the Columbus Dispatch.
May 9th, 2012Catapult Learning and Teachscape Announce Partnership to Provide Professional Development Resources to Non-Public Schools
written by John Fergus
NEW JERSEY AND SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2012 — Catapult Learning, the nation’s leading educational services company, and Teachscape, the leader in delivering Web-based professional learning content, innovative technologies, and expert services, announced today an agreement to provide educators and teachers in non-public schools access to powerful professional development resources and software.
This new agreement enables Catapult Learning to offer Teachscape’s observation and evaluation system to its non-public school customers. The Teachscape observation and evaluation system consists of professional development resources, tools, and software including:
Teachscape Walk – a mobile application for conducting quick classroom walkthroughs for formative assessment and instructional planning purposes
Teachscape Reflect Live – a tablet-based observation management and reporting tool that combines observation scheduling, live observation, document/artifact management, and reporting
Teachscape Reflect Video – a platform for storing and sharing videos from any source that includes commenting and scoring tools to support self-reflection, PLCs, and teaching observation. Camera kits are also offered [...]
January 9th, 2012School District in Delaware Finds Catapult Learning Instructional Intervention Services “Excellent”
written by John Fergus
by John Fergus
Bridget Coyne in the Catapult Learning Research and Evaluation department recently sent over these tremendous survey results from the previous school year. This survey was conducted in one of the Non-Public School Districts in Deleware where Catapult Learning provided instructional intervention services for Title I Math and Reading.
The survey was collected from Principals, Teachers, and Parents and the results are phenomenal. They speak to the tremendous committment that Catapult Teachers and Administrator’s have for helping stuggling learners acheive beyond their expectations! Don’t just take my word for it…see for yourself.
January 9, 2012
Catapult Learning Survey Results:
Click Here for the Full Report: Catapult Learning Survey Results 2011- NonPublic School District Delaware
Non-Public School District in Delaware
These results were gathered from a Non-Public School District in Delaware where Catapult Learning provided Instructional Intervention services during the 2010-2011 school year.
Principals:
In the spring, each school principal was sent a survey to complete. Principals were [...]
December 21st, 2011In Kansas Reading Comes First: Bill Blokker Discusses Literacy First at Governor’s Summit
written by John Fergus
Bill Blokker, President of Literacy First
Bill Blokker, the President of Literacy First, recently presented at the Governor’s Literacy Summit at Emporia State University. At the conference a panel of educators and Governor Brownback set three measureable objectives in his “Road Map for Kansas”. Mr. Blokker discussed the Literacy First Process and how it’s helping Kansas children learn how to read and succeed!
Below is a link to the full story and also a copy of the thank you from the Kansas Commissioner of Education.
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2011/dec/08/literacy-summit/
Thank you for speaking at the Governor’s Literacy Summit on December 7 at Emporia State University. I appreciate your willingness to participate and provide input regarding the important work of the Literacy First and how it impacts our Kansas kids.
Sincerely,
Diane M. DeBacker
Commissioner of Education
Andrew Ordover manages the design and creation of all of Catapult Learning instructional programs. Andrew has worked in curriculum development at public and private schools in Atlanta, New York City, and the Slovak Republic. He has created print and online programs for K12 students and has developed live and online professional development workshops and courses for teachers. Most recently, he served as Director of Academic Quality at ASCD. Andrew has a BA in English from Emory University, an MFA in theatre from UCLA, and an Ed.D. in Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning from Walden University. 
John Fergus is the Online Marketing Specialist for Catapult Learning. John is responsible for online marketing activities including email, webinars, and content management of the website, and social media. He has been with Catapult since May 2011 and he is based out of the company headquarters in Camden NJ. 
Dr. Abelein has served as a teacher, principal, diocesan administrator, and consultant in parochial and private Catholic education for twenty years. Prior to her position as Associate Superintendent for Leadership and Recruitment for the Archdiocese of New York, Dr. Abelein served as President and Principal at St. Aloysius in New York, Principal at Verbum Dei in Los Angeles, and Principal of St. Paul of the Cross in La Mirada, California, as well as, a Teacher in Guam and California.
Dr. Abelein earned a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California, a M.Ed. Leadership from the University of Portland, and a B.A. in English with Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She holds New York State permanent certification in English/Secondary Level and School Admin/Supervision. Dr. Abelein has taught numerous graduate courses at Loyola Marymount University, Fordham University, St. John’s University, and the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Abelein currently serves on the Board of Directors at America Press, Inc. and supports One Home Many Hopes a non-profit whose mission is to “find, rescue, house, love and educate orphaned and abandoned girls in Mtwapa, Kenya and equip them to be the future agents of change in their community.” Dr. Abelein was awarded Fulbright Specialist Scholar roster candidate status in March 2011. 
Diane Rymer is our Director of Professional Development and is responsible for the overall development and implementation for all of our professional development programs. Diane brings a wealth of professional development experience, including Supervisor of Professional Development at Baltimore County Public Schools and Assistant Director of Professional Development at Maryland Public Television. Diane earned her Master’s of Science/Technology for Educators from John Hopkins University and her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Loyola University, Maryland. 
Heather Bickley is the Philadelphia Coaching Supervisor for Catapult Learning. She is also an instructional coach, works on various projects with Catapult’s professional development team, and she is also an adjunct professor at West Chester University. She is a professional educator with diverse experience teaching and supervising both face-to-face and online. She currently works out of the Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ offices of Catapult Learning. 
Stuart Udell joined Catapult Learning as our President and CEO from The Princeton Review, where he served as President of Post Secondary Education. He also served as CEO of Penn Foster, a global leader in career-focused online learning, until December 2009, at which time the company was acquired by The Princeton Review. Prior to joining Penn Foster, Stuart spent ten years with Kaplan, Inc., most recently as President of its K-12 division. In addition, Stuart currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (Clemson University), a position he’s held since 2009. 
Dr. Ronald Valenti has devoted forty-five years to Catholic education both as a high school teacher and administrator. He served the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for twenty-five years as teacher and principal. In 1975, Cardinal Krol appointed Dr. Valenti as the first laymen in the history of Catholic education in Philadelphia to serve as principal. In 1990 he was appointed by Cardinal Keeler to lead the Archdiocese of Baltimore as its superintendent of Catholic schools, a position which he held for twenty years.
His career has been marked by notable recognition and accomplishments. In 2008 he was invited by President George W. Bush to participate in the White House Summit for Faith Based Schools. In 2002 he received an award from the Baltimore Jewish Council in recognition of his cultivating a collaborative relationship between the Christians and Jewish communities. In 2004, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, conferred on Dr. Valenti a Papal Award and Honor for his outstanding contributions to Catholic education. 
Jessica Bianculli is the Regional Director of Professional Development and STEM Specialist for Catapult Learning. Jessica is responsible for coaching and PD seminars in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. Jessica worked as a clinical faculty member at The University of Delaware, teaching undergrad students in the Elementary Education program and working as an instructional coach for the University Lab School. She has many years of experience as a Writing Project Consultant, and taught for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Jessica earned her Master of Science degree from The University of Delaware in Literacy and Linguistics and her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Earth Science from West Chester University. 
Michelle Doyle has many years of experience in the administration of federal education programs for students attending private and religious schools. Currently, Michelle is also the national consultant to Catapult Learning, whose mission is to serve K-12 students who struggle with academics. Previously, Michelle was the education lobbyist for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and also held the position of Director of the Office of Non-Public Education at the U.S. Department of Education for 10 years. 