Catapult Corner: An EduBlog
May 23rd, 2013Educator Spotlight: May 2013
written by John Fergus
Educator Spotlight
Announcing the May 2013 Educator Spotlight honorees! Congratulations to our educators as they end another great school year.
The Educator Spotlight is a monthly feature on our Catapult Corner Blog. The educators that are highlighted are nominated by their Catapult colleagues in recognition of the positive impact they have on children and schools throughout the country. They are our very own shining stars!
Jennifer Dillman – Teacher – Schuylkill County, PA
Cathy Elston – Teacher – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Jean Griffin – Teacher – Orlando, FL
Lorraine Hansen – Nurse – Bayonne, NJ
Kathy Lindberg – Teacher – Jupiter, FL
Jasmine Morales – Teacher – Chicago, IL
Larry Porterfield – Teacher – Greensburg, PA
Angela Purrin – Teacher – Schuylkill County, PA
Peggy Gautreaux Rivers – Consultant – New Smyrna Beach, FL
April Roberson – Teacher – Jacksonville, FL
May 13th, 2013Building Student Character in the Classroom (Part 2)
written by Dr. Andrew Ordover
The Importance of Performance Character Values
Last month we talked about the six performance-related character values that Catapult Learning has selected to focus on and support in our new programs to help students become independent and successful adults. They were:
Persisting towards solutions
Working with precision
Asking questions
Working with others
Making connections
Monitoring progress and embracing learning
I think it’s worth taking some time to look a little more closely at the first trait on the list.
May 7th, 2013The English Language Learner in Your Classroom (Part 2)
written by Heather Bickley
SIOP – An English Language Learner Methodology
SIOP is a research driven, teacher supported methodology that has been proven to increase engagement and achievement. Have you had a chance to practice and apply some of the methodology from Part 1 of this blog post? I hope you have found it successful. What follows is part two of the introduction to the SIOP methodology!
April 30th, 2013ESEA Reauthorization: Can Congress Get It Done?
written by Michelle Doyle
Capitol Hill Update: I Think I Can, I Think I Can
The last time Congress reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. There have been several ESEA reauthorization attempts over the last couple of years, but none of these have had a serious chance of becoming law. Can congress get it done now?
April 24th, 2013Building Student Character in the Classroom
written by Dr. Andrew Ordover
The Importance of Performance Character Values
Anyone who has spent time in a classroom knows that schooling involves far more than academic lessons. Many things contribute to a student’s learning and success—and just as many things can detract from it. One can argue to what extent teachers and school districts should hold themselves responsible for factors such as adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and safe places to sleep at night. But other elements that affect student performance are closely tied to the academic work of the classroom and can be cultivated and developed by the teacher. In fact, studies have shown that attention to certain character traits can greatly affect a student’s ability to succeed in school and in life.
April 18th, 2013Catapult Learning Educator Spotlight: April 2013
written by John Fergus
Educator Spotlight:
We are extremely excited to announce our honorees for April 2013!
The Educator Spotlight is a monthly feature on our Catapult Corner Blog. The educators that are highlighted are nominated by their Catapult colleagues in recognition of the positive impact they have on children and schools throughout the country. They are our very own shining stars!
April 15th, 2013The English Language Learner in Your Classroom
written by Heather Bickley
SIOP – An English Language Learner Methodology
Teachers today are responsible for differentiating their instruction to meet the needs of all learners, which includes being prepared to meet the explicitly unique and critical needs of English language learners.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), all teachers will likely have at least one ELL in their classroom each year regardless of where they live. Current research reflects the unprecedented growth of this linguistically and culturally diverse group over the last 30 years. The total population of school-age students who speak a language other than English in the home has nearly tripled, from 3.8 million in 1979 to 10.8 million in 2006, and currently comprises over 20% of the entire student population in U.S. public schools.
Although we are responsible for teaching the same content to ELLs as we are to Native speakers, it is not effective to use the same methods between populations. We must train carefully in order to provide effective instruction for ELLs. Enter sheltered instruction.
April 8th, 2013Content Roundup: Common Core and Teacher Resources
written by John Fergus
March Content from Catapult Learning
See what you’ve missed! Check out out all the content our Common Core Expert team produced during the month of March. We’ve listed everything here for your reading and viewing pleasure: the blog posts, the webinar, the workshops, and the new products. Enjoy!
April 2nd, 2013Sequestration Cuts to Education: No Pardon Given
written by Michelle Doyle
Capitol Hill Update:
Sequestration cuts were the “poison pill” written into the Budget Control Act: a consequence so dire that Congress would surely act to cut trillions from the federal budget in a thoughtful and reasoned way. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way. Congress could not reach an agreement on spending cuts, tax reform, or entitlement reform. On January 1st, when an across-the-board cut of 8% was scheduled to go into effect, Congress gave itself another two months to work out this grand bargain, made some cuts to spending, and raised some taxes to increase revenue. But when March 1st came around, Congress once again could not come to an agreement and sequestration took place.
March 28th, 2013Teaching as Storytelling: Why Episode IV Comes First
written by Dr. Andrew Ordover
The T-shirt said: Episode IV comes first; it’s just good parenting.
I shared the picture on Facebook. Within an hour, I had a ton of “likes” and comments. One friend shared a link to a blog post explaining precisely how to order the six Star Wars movies for maximum enjoyment and minimum second-trilogy annoyance. It was an exercise in hardcore geekdom, but it took the Star Wars story—and the whole idea of story—more seriously than many English teachers I have known. When you’re a fan, you care that the true identity of Darth Vader is a surprise and a shock. You care that watching the movies in George Lucas’ approved order destroys that shock and surprise. Sometimes fans understand a story better than its creator.
Stories matter. We spend millions of dollars and millions of hours on stories—stories in books, stories in movies, stories on television shows. We dissect them. We analyze them. We take sides. (Team Edward? No: Team Jacob!) We get angry when someone messes with them. Our dreams, our folk tales, our mythologies, our history—all of these things take the form of stories. Stories are how our brains make sense of life.
What is it that makes some stories work, while others leave us untouched?
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. 