Cotsen Alumni Take on New Leadership Roles in the 2016-2017 School Year

Cotsen Alumni Take on New Leadership Roles in the 2016-2017 School Year

Successful team leader (manager, CEO, market leader) and another business leading concepts. Standing out from the crowd.

It gives the Cotsen Foundation great joy to see so many alumni, mentors and fellows alike, taking on new challenges and roles as leaders in their schools/districts. The following is a list of Cotsen alumni who have taken on new leadership roles as of the 2016 – 2017 academic year and/or have received advanced degrees in 2016:

Liz Adams (alumni fellow ’10). Formerly a fellow and demonstration teacher at Billy Mitchell Elementary School, Liz completed a Doctorate of Education from California Lutheran University with an emphasis in educational leadership. She is currently a teacher at Valley Charter Elementary School.

Patricia Cracchiola (alumni fellow ’06). Recently retired from Los Angeles Unified School District, Patricia is the Special Education Administrator at Valley Charter Middle School coaching teachers on project based learning and developing units of study.

Lara Epling (alumni fellow ’10). Lara will be a TK-8 TOSA of Instructional Support in Fountain Valley School District. She is researching, developing and supporting instructional and intervention practices, as well as coaching teachers focusing on their signature practices.

Amanda Heineman (Johnson) (alumni fellow ’13). Amanda is a coordinator for Educational Services in Tustin Unified School District, coordinating elementary curriculum, specifically ELA and as well as Induction program for new teachers.

George Herrera (alumni mentor ’10). Formerly a mentor at Northam Elementary in Rowland Unified School District, George is the principal at Villacorta Elementary in Rowland. He completed his Doctorate of Education at USC in Organizational Change and Leadership.

Kristen Holm (alumni fellow ’05). Formerly a fellow in Lawndale Elementary School District, Kristen started her third year as Principal at Washington Elementary School in Redondo Beach Unified School District.

Alicia Jackson (alumni mentor ’16). Formerly a mentor at Farragut Elementary in Culver City Unified School District, Alicia is the on-site math coach where she is coaching teachers in CGI and mathematical strategies that strengthen mathematical conversations and push student conceptual comprehension of mathematics.

Annette Kamoss (alumni mentor ’16). Formerly a mentor at Green Acres Elementary in Live Oak School District, Annette is an instructional coach at the school, planning and debriefing with grade level teams and coaching teachers in their classroom. She also works with the district coaching team, planning and presenting content for professional learning.

Carlen Le-Hessinger (alumni fellow ’09 and alumni mentor ’15). Carlen was a fellow at Yorbita Elementary in Rowland Unified School District and later a mentor at Telesis Academy of Math and Science in Rowland. Carlen is an instructional coach at the district where she collaborates with teachers in the design and planning of instructional units and lessons, provides coaching in the classroom, and plans and delivers professional development at the school and district level.

Liz Mejia (alumni mentor ’16). Formerly a mentor at El Marino Language Academy in Culver City Unified School District, Liz is the on-site math coach for Spanish Immersion teachers where she is working in a modified coaching cycle and providing monthly inquiry meetings.

Kyle Myers (alumni mentor ’16). Formerly a mentor at Valencia Park Elementary in Fullerton School District, Kyle is the coordinator of All the Arts programs and the GATE program in the district.

Heather Peterson (alumni mentor ’14 & ‘16). Heather was a mentor for two cohorts of fellows at Tincher Preparatory School in Long Beach Unified School District. Heather is a STEP (Supporting Teacher Effectiveness Project) Coach at the district.

Chris Quirarte (alumni mentor ’13). Formerly a mentor at Hoover Elementary School in Whittier City School District, Chris is the principal at Andrews Elementary in Whitter City.

Denise Reid (alumni mentor ’07 and ’09). Denise provides Reading Recovery services as well as small group reading interventions to first graders in Long Beach Unified School District. She also models lessons and supports teachers in reading instruction.

Susan Safah (alumni fellow ’08). Susan is an English Language Instructional Resource Teacher (ELIRT) in Lawndale Elementary School District where she supports teachers with ELD as well as the district with State and Federal Compliance.

Annette Stankovich (alumni mentor ’14). Formerly a mentor at Heideman Elementary in Tustin Unified School District, Annette completed her Master’s degree in Educational Technology, while also continuing as a “Connect Coach in Tustin coaching mentors.

Katherine Tacea (alumni fellow ’07). Katherine is the Technology Team Chair at Lafayette Elementary School and the Coordinator for Technology grants and funding. She proactively works to support teachers to integrate technology into their planning and provide professional development in technology to staff and teachers.

Carla-Anne Thomas (alumni fellow ’05). Carla-Anne is a Literacy Specialist at the UCLA Lab School providing intensive instruction to struggling readers and writers, as well as providing a range of intensive, individualized interventions designed to remediate learning challenges for complex learners.

If you know of Cotsen alumni that have risen to new leadership positions or academic challenges, but are missing from this list, please email us at icox@cotsen.org and we will be sure to add them to the list. Thank you.

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