1-866-295-3104 | Online Master of Education Faculty
Amy Cassidy
I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher from an early age. Choosing to attend Illinois State University was a simple choice for me because ISU was only a forty-five minute drive from my hometown of Peoria, Illinois, and is also well known for its Education Programs. After graduating from ISU, I began my teaching career in Peoria. For a year I taught in Peoria Public Schools, and then finally made the move that I had always wanted to make. I moved to Chicago! I have now been teaching in Naperville, Illinois for nine years. After getting my feet wet, I decided to enroll in a graduate program through Northern Illinois University to become a Reading Specialist. I completed this program in 2002. I remain a 7th grade reading teacher, and hope to pursue a doctoral degree within the next few years.
My eleven years of teaching have all been spent at the middle school level. Although people often think that middle school students are difficult, I absolutely love working with them each day. I began my career in Peoria working with struggling readers as a Title I Reading Teacher, but have since been working at Indian Prairie School District in Naperville as a classroom reading teacher. I often tell my students that if they don't like to read, it's because they haven't found the right book yet. I spend each day trying to spark their interest in reading. I am also a member of my district's Literary Leadership Council. This group worked to restructure the K-12 reading curricula to incorporate a balanced literacy approach to the teaching of reading. In addition to teaching courses for Benedictine, I am also an instructor at Rockford College for Performance Learning Systems.
I currently reside in Plainfield, Illinois but have lived in various western suburbs as well as in the city of Chicago for one year. I love moving to new areas for a change of scenery.
---------------------------
Renee Baxter
Hello and welcome! I look forward to working with everyone in the class. I really enjoy teaching in the online environment and know I will learn a great deal from all of you and your various experiences.
A little bit about me, I define myself as a teacher. I enjoy working with all learners in a variety of content areas. I truly believe in the power of education as a component in broadening life's opportunities. As a teacher, I have the benefit of facilitating those opportunities as learners realize their educational goals. I've taught 2nd grade, 5th grade and 8th grade and I currently teach Developmental Reading and Writing at a local community college for incoming freshmen.
I have finished my course work for my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction and I'm currently working on my dissertation. I also have a nonprofit tutoring program working with students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. I have two wonderful girls, ages 16 and 10, and a dog and a cat. All of these things keep me on my toes and bring me great joy.
Please take a few minutes and post a profile of yourself in the Student Lounge. Relationships play a crucial factor in building the trust needed in an online learning community. Posting information about who you are is a great start towards building that community.
-------------------------------------
Wanda Roland-Wiley
Wanda Roland-Wiley is a 23 year veteran of the Chicago Public School system and is presently a Literacy Coach with the Dept. of Literacy. She is actively involved in the assessment, evaluation and staff development of new and "seasoned" teachers in the areas of literacy and writing. Dr. Roland is currently working with Area 8 students, teachers, and administrators to improve assessment scores in the areas of reading and writing. Her research involves involving both parents and teachers in a joint effort to improve adolescent academic achievement. She has served on the New School Development Team (city and suburbs) to improve schools in the areas of curriculum, community partnership, and business involvement. Dr. Roland-Wiley has written and been awarded several grants, totaling over $175,000 to establish and School-Community Literacy Link.
Dr. Roland has served as a conference speaker for the James Comer School Development and Management expounding on the importance of Early Literacy in the African American Community. Dr. Roland's training consists of Yale Child Study Center - School Development Program; Roosevelt University, where she received her degree in Administration and Supervision; Nova Southeast University- where she received her doctorate in Education and Loyola University where she continued her studies in Literacy and assessment.
Dr. Roland-Wiley's involvement with Literacy and early learning began as a teacher with English as a Second Language on the Northside of Chicago. It was this classroom that began her quest to better service her students with the development of curriculum and early assessment. These quests lead her extensive studies in the DIBELS measurements and the Illinois Standards in Teaching and Learning.
Dr. Roland-Wiley's career has included Assessment Coordinator, Textbook Consultant, Literacy Leader, Curriculum and Controlled Enrollment Coordinator, Parent/Community Advocate, Assistant Principal, Mentor Teacher and Conference Speaker.
Dr. Roland-Wiley is presently authoring a book titled, "So You Want To Be a Teacher…" A practical handbook for beginning teachers.
