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ABOUT THE SERIES EDITORS
Mark Onuscheck is director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He is a former English teacher and director of communication arts. As director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, Mark works with academic divisions on professional learning, articulation, curricular and instructional revision, evaluation, assessment, social-emotional learning, technologies, and Common Core implementation. He is also an adjunct professor at DePaul University.
Mark was awarded the Quality Matters Star Rating for his work in online teaching. He helps to build curriculum and instructional practices for TimeLine Theatre’s arts integration program for Chicago Public Schools. Additionally, he is a National Endowment for the Humanities grant recipient and a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Council of Teachers of English, and Learning Forward.
Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in English and classical studies from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in teaching English from the University of Pittsburgh.
Jeanne Spiller is assistant superintendent for teaching and learning for Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. School District 96 is recognized by AllThingsPLC (AllThingsPLC.info) as one of only a small number of school districts in which all schools in the district earn the distinction of model professional learning communities (PLCs). Jeanne’s work focuses on standards-aligned instruction and assessment practices. She supports schools and districts across the United States in gaining clarity about and implementing the four critical questions of PLCs. She is passionate about collaborating with schools to develop systems for teaching and learning that keep the focus on student results, and helping teachers determine how to approach instruction so that all students learn at high levels.
Jeanne received a 2014 Illinois Those Who Excel Award for significant contributions in administration to the state’s public and nonpublic elementary schools. She is a graduate of the 2008 Learning Forward Academy, where she learned how to plan and implement professional learning that improves educator practice and increases student achievement. She has served as a classroom teacher, team leader, middle school administrator, and director of professional learning.
Jeanne earned a master’s degree in educational teaching and leadership from Saint Xavier University, a master’s degree in educational administration from Loyola University, Chicago, and an educational administrative superintendent endorsement from Northern Illinois University.
To learn more about Jeanne’s work, visit www.livingtheplclife.com and follow @jeeneemarie on Twitter.
To book Mark Onuscheck or Jeanne Spiller for professional development, contact [email protected].
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Daniel M. Argentar is a literacy coach and communication arts teacher at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. In his previous work as a sixth-grade teacher, he taught reading, language arts, social studies, and science. Since 2001, he has provided academic literacy support to struggling freshmen and sophomores, in addition to teaching college prep and accelerated English courses. In his coaching role, he partners with instructors from across all content areas to increase disciplinary literacy for students by running book studies, professional development sessions, and one-on-one coaching meetings.
Daniel received a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an English teaching degree and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and a master’s degree in reading from Concordia University in Chicago.
To learn more about Daniel’s work, follow @dargentar125 on Twitter.
Katherine A. N. Gillies works as a reading specialist and English teacher at Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois, where she previously served as a literacy coach. Katherine serves as the lead architect of schoolwide literacy improvement work, including building a comprehensive system of intervention and support for struggling readers, as well as crafting research-based curricula to ensure the continued literacy growth of all students. Katherine leads several collaborative teams and cross-curricular initiatives aimed at using data to inform instruction, building capacity for disciplinary literacy, and employing responsible assessment practices in the secondary arena. She has presented on these topics at local and national conferences, including that of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Katherine earned a bachelor’s degree in literature and secondary education from Saint Louis University; a master’s degree in literacy, language, and culture with reading specialist certification from the University of Illinois, Chicago; and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Concordia University, Chicago, and is also a certified Project CRISS (Creating Independence through Student-Owned Strategies) trainer.
To learn more about Katherine’s work, follow @LiteracySkills on Twitter.
Maureen M. Rubenstein is a literacy coach and special education instructor at Adlai E. Stevenson High School. As a teacher, she works on individualized education plans with students who have diagnosed reading, writing, and emotional disabilities. In her coaching role, she partners with instructors from all divisions to work on disciplinary literacy. In addition to coaching individual teachers, she works with other literacy coaches to coordinate and implement book clubs, professional development sessions, and one-on-one coaching sessions.
Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in special education from Illinois State University, a master’s degree in language literacy and specialized instruction (reading specialist) from DePaul University, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Illinois University. Maureen is also a certified Project CRISS instructor and certified to teach Wilson Reading.
To learn more about Maureen’s work, follow @SHS_LiteracyMR on Twitter.
Brian R. Wise is a literacy coach and English teacher at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He has taught a wide array of English and literacy intervention courses throughout his teaching career. As a literacy coach, he works with faculty members from all divisions of the high school to build teachers’