The I&L Scoop
#WeAreNavasota
Growth: Through Collaboration
This year’s focus is growth. Growth for each student in your assigned classes, growth for ourselves as a professional, and growth for our programs district-wide.
What does the research say?
Somekh (2006) found that educators sharing work is a practice that results in innovative approaches and quality implementation of ideas for enhancing instruction in the classroom; however, the natural tendency is for educators to shy away from presenting and sharing their work. Discussion, according to Somekh (2006), was crucial to interventions working for students in the learning environment. Often, educators will focus on management of learning rather than on the learning process itself when planning on their own. Focusing individually on what the educator wanted students to learn results in much of the educator’s energy being used in planning and organizing the activities instead of considering how students process lesson information and how they will best acquire the new knowledge and skills. When teachers collaborated and shared their experiences, the focus shifts to the level of learning acquired by the students.
Interestingly, collaboration studies among student learners resulted in gains in learning performance as well (Sung & Hwang, 2013). A collaborative game based learning approach with students yielded improvement in students’ learning achievement, self-efficacy and learning attitude according to Sung and Hwang (2013).
What does this mean?
Collaboration among professionals and students nets in gains for learning. Sharing what works, what does not work, and what is available gives our staff an advantage in producing the most beneficial learning environment possible. Experience is a great teacher! Attached to this month’s I&L Scoop is the I&L team’s resumes/experiences. We are sharing these so you can see what experience the team has to share with you. Please contact us to collaborate with you on situations that arise. We are here to serve. Let us know how we can help you!
Works Cited
Somekh, B. (2006). Inhabiting each other’s castles: Towards knowledge and mutual growth through collaboration. Educational Action Research, 357-381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0965079940020305
Sung, H. & Hwang, G. (2013). A collaborative game-based learning approach to improving students’ learning performance in science course. Computers & Education, 63, 43-51.
Growth Videos
Growth Mindset for Students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zrtHt3bBmQ
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUWn_TJTrnU
Your Month at a Glance
October 1 - 31
Oct 2: Eduphoria Conference (Region 6)
Oct 3: I&L Department Meeting 8:00 A.M.
Oct 6: MAP testing window closes
Oct 6-8: TASB Conference (Dallas)
Oct 10: 2nd Round Progress Reports go home
Oct 10: I&L Department Meeting 8:00 A.M.
Oct 11: MAP Report Training - 1:00 and 3:30 (Professional Learning Room at Central)
Oct 12-24: 1st 9 Weeks Assessment window
Oct 12: Dr. Loyd at Webb
Oct 17: I&L Department Meeting 8:00 A.M.
Oct 18: Dr. Loyd at Brule
Oct 19: Edmentum Training
Oct 19: Region 6 Pilot Meeting with Elementary & JH Principals & Coordinators 9:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. (Central Office)
Oct 20: End of 1st '9 Weeks'
Oct 23: District Inservice/Student Holiday *Agenda coming soon!
Oct 24: I&L Department Meeting 8:00 A.M.
Oct 24: Dr. Loyd at JH
Oct 26: Report Cards sent home
Oct 31: I&L Department Meeting 8:00 A.M.
Student Services
Common Risk Factors Associated with Dyslexia
Preschool:
Difficulty with rhyming
Difficulty pronouncing words
Poor auditory memory for nursery rhymes and chants
Difficulty in adding new vocabulary words
Inability to recall the right word (word retrieval)
Trouble learning and naming letters and numbers/remembering the letters in name
Aversion to print (does not enjoy following along if read to)
Kindergarten and First Grade
Difficulty breaking words into smaller parts (syllable) (baseball into “base” and “ball”
Difficulty identifying and manipulating sounds in syllables (“man” /m/ /ă/ /n
Difficulty remembering the names of letters and recalling corresponding sounds
Difficulty decoding single words (reading single words in isolation)
Difficulty spelling words the way they sound (phonetically) or remembering letter sequences in very common words seen in print
Second Grade and Third Grade
Difficulty recognizing common sight words ( to, said, been)
Difficulty decoding single words
Difficulty recalling the correct sounds for letters and letter patterns in reading
Difficulty connecting speech sounds with appropriate letter or letter combinations and omitting letters in words for spelling (after as eftr)
Difficulty reading fluently (slow, inaccurate, and/or without expression)
Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade
Difficulty reading aloud (fear of reading aloud in front of class)
Avoidance of reading (particularly for pleasure)
Acquisition of less vocabulary due to reduced independent reading
Use of less complicated words in writing that are easier to spell than more appropriate words
Reliance on listening rather than reading for comprehension
Middle School and High School
Difficulty with the volume of reading and written word
Frustration with the amount of time required and energy expended to reading
Difficulty with written assignments
Tendency to avoid reading (particularly for pleasure)
Difficulty with a foreign language
The Dyslexia Handbook is available online: Go to
https://www.region10.org/programs/interactive-dyslexia-handbook/introduction/
The first module of the Texas Dyslexia Identification Academy is available on Texas Gateway. It is called Dyslexia Foundations and it explores the elements of reading, the facts and myths about dyslexia, and the process for dyslexia evaluation. Go to
Get to know the I&L Staff
Dr. Brewer's Resume
TRACY BREWER
B.S., M.Ed., Ed.D.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Learning 2017-Present
Navasota I.S.D., Navasota, Tx
3,066 students, 380 staff
Secondary Principal with Central Office Duties 2015 – 2017
Milano I.S.D., Milano, Tx
427 students; 70 staff
Middle School Assistant Principal 2011 – 2015
Caldwell I.S.D., Caldwell, Tx
1,793 students; 269 staff
Coordinator of Academic Alternative School 2010 – 2011
Caldwell I.S.D., Caldwell, Tx
1,793 students; 269 staff
School Counselor 1999 – 2010*
Lampasas I.S.D. Lampasas, Tx
3,316 students; 527 staff
Caldwell I.S.D., Caldwell TX
1,793 students; 269 staff
Technology/ELA Teacher 1995 – 1999
Caldwell I.S.D., Caldwell, Tx
*Break in service 2009 when family lived in Bucharest, Romania.
EDUCATION
Doctorate in Educational Leadership 2016
Lamar University, Beaumont, Tx
Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology 2000
Texas A&M University, College Station, Tx
Bachelor of Science in Psychology 1995
Texas A&M University, College Station, Tx
CERTIFICATIONS
· Superintendent (EC-12)
· Principal (EC-12)
· Special Education Counselor (PK-12)
· Vocational Counselor (6-12)
· Secondary Psychology (6-12)
· Secondary English (6-12)
· Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System
· Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System
· Instructional Leadership Development
· Professional Development Appraisal System
· CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
· ALICE Implementation Training Certification
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
· Phi Kappa Phi
· Sigma Tau Delta
· Texas Association of School Administrators
· Texas Association of Secondary School Principals
· Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum
· Texas Counseling Association
· Texas Association of Alternative Education
· Association of Texas Professional Educators
ORGANIZATIONS
· Region VI Principal Advisory Committee
· Lions Club
· American Legion Auxiliary
· United Methodist Church
AWARDS
· Outstanding Doctoral Student Award in Educational Leadership, Lamar University, 2017
· E. Jane Irons Outstanding Dissertation Award Nominee, 2017
· Offshore Technology Conference – Shell Energy Education Institute Selected Educator, 2011
· Texas A&M V.I.C. Counselor of the Year Award, 2010
· U.S. Army – Houston Texans NFL Behind the Scenes Recipient, 2010
PROGRAM EXPERIENCE & SERVICE
Academic Alternative School Coordinator
Attendance Compliance Coordinator
Campus 504 Coordinator
Campus Advisory Coordinator
Campus Flower Fund Sunshine Coordinator
Campus Safety Coordinator
Campus Site Base Committee
Campus Testing Coordinator: State Mandated, ACT, SAT, PSAT, ITBS, G/T
Campus Textbook Coordinator
Comprehensive Guidance Program Coordinator
Discipline Coordinator
District Curriculum Committee
District Facilities & Building Committee
District Gifted and Talented Committee
District Safety Coordinator
District Site Base Committee
District Technology Committee
District Testing Coordinator
District Title IX Coordinator
Electronic Curriculum Coordinator: NovaNet, A+, Plato, Edgenuity
Federal Title I Program Coordinator
Treasurer, First United Methodist Church
T-TESS Implementation Collaboration, Region VI, Huntsville, TX
Youth Soccer Coach, Burleson County Youth Soccer League
PERSONAL SHARE
My husband and I have six children together. Justin finished his Master's and is a hospital administrator at a hospital in Arkansas. Wendy finished nursing school and works in the Woodlands. Quint attends Angelo State University majoring in Biology and Psychology and is a co-ed cheerleader. Quade is a trombone player in the band. Jacy plays little digger volleyball. Jaxon is our youngest and happiest working cows with his Grandpa. I am a proud Aggie! WHOOP! My husband is a die-hard Longhorn fan. I love the Cowboys; he is a Steeler fan. Somehow, it all works!
I graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education in 1980 and 1981.
Gooooo Dawgs! Sic ‘Em!!!!
37 Years Total Experience in Education (all at Navasota ISD):
- Taught 1st grade for 11 years
- Taught 3rd grade for 17
- Taught 2nd grade looping class for 2 years
- Academic Coordinator at John C. Webb Elementary for 7 years
- Coordinator of Student Services at District Administrative Office for 2 years
This is what I can assist you with:
- Dyslexia
- Section 504
- Title III
- Bilingual/ESL
- LPAC
Personal fact about me:
I have been married to my husband Neely for 37 years. We met at the University of Georgia. We have two children, Addie Marie and Brandon Nickle. Addie Marie works in Houston. My son is married with two children and living in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. My grandsons are Keyser and Beckett. They are the love of my life!
Email: nicklej@navasotaisd.org
Phone: 936.825.1170
Amberly Kolby
Howdy! I graduated with my Masters in Educational Leadership from Lamar University in 2015. I earned my Bachelors in Marketing and Finance from Texas A&M in 2001.
I am serving my 11th year in Education:
- Taught 6th, 7th, 8th grade math (at NJH)
- Taught 3rd grade (at High Point)
- Taught 3rd grade self-contained
- Elementary School Counselor for 3 years
- Currently District Testing Coordinator
This is what I can assist you with:
- Report Reading and Data Analysis
- Eduphoria
- MAP Testing
- TELPAS Testing
- STAAR Testing
Personal fact about me:
My husband and I both graduated NHS as high school sweethearts. We have been married for 15 years, and have 2 children. Mason just turned 12 and loves all things hunting and fishing, and Camden is a 9 year old in love with horses! We are all hard-core Aggie fans...Gig'em Ags!
Email: kolbya@navasotaisd.org
Phone: 936.825.5012
Julie Horn
I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in mathematics from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Number of Years of Experience:
- Taught math, everything from 4th grade through Calculus for 20 years
- Worked at Region 4 Education Service Center for 13 years developing products, providing professional development, and coaching teachers
This is what I can assist you with:
- Mathematics instruction, curriculum, and assessment
- Science instruction, curriculum, and assessment
- Mathematics resources for planning and creating lessons
- Science resources for planning and creating lessons
- TEKS Resource System
Personal fact about me:
I have been married to my husband, Geoff, for a very long time. We have 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law, and 1 granddaughter. There are many things I enjoy doing, making soap, growing Christmas trees, crocheting, weaving, and spinning.
Email: hornj@navasotaisd.org
Phone: 936.825.4205
Jo Anna Moreland
I am a proud graduate of Sam Houston State University, I received a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in History. Then I was in the first cohort to complete a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology with a double minor in Computer Science and Administration, Eat’em Up Kats!
I have completed 26 years in educational experience:
Instructional Aide in PE, classroom assistant, and then technology for 8 years
Taught 4th grade ELAR and Social Studies for 4 years
Campus Technology Specialist with Administrative duties for 6 years
Technology Instructional Specialist and Curriculum for 8 years
This is what I can assist you with:
Gifted and Talented
All things Google, including student accounts
iStation
Edmentum products: Study Island, Exact Path, and Reading Eggs
StemScope accounts
MAP testing
Instructional Technology
Eduphoria (new to me but learning!)
Personal fact about me:
I have been married for 37 years to Richard. We have 3 children who all live in the Navasota area. Our daughter, Cara, teaches at the Jr High. We have two sons, Ricky and Neil. The absolute best “hat” I wear is that of G-Jo (stands for Grandma Jo) to 5 awesome grandchildren ranging in ages from 1 to 18! We have lots of family celebrations at my house that fill not only my house but my heart!
Email: morelandj@navasotaisd.org
Phone: 936.825.4264
Beth Klammer
I am a Sam Houston Bearkat through and through. I received my B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a 1-8 certification and a Geography minor, my Master's degree in Instructional Leadership with a specialization in reading instruction for English Language Learners, and am currently working on my doctorate in Educational Leadership.
I have been in education for 20 years and have had the privilege to work in the following capacities:
- 5th and 6th grade ELAR and Social Studies in Aldine ISD
- 9th and 10th grade ELAR at the John Cooper School
- 3rd grade math, 4th grade ELAR, Instructional Coach, Elementary Administrator, Coordinator of Curriculum, Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Montgomery ISD
- Educational Consultant for Education Solutions, Inc.
This is what I can assist you with:
- Fountas & Pinnell- BAS, LLI, or Phonics
- Eduphoria
- ELAR instruction, curriculum, and assessment
- ELAR resources for planning and creating lessons
- Social Studies/History instruction, curriculum, and assessment
- Social Studies/History resources for planning and creating lessons
- Integrating technology into your ELAR or SS/History class
- Gretchen Bernabei (Trainer of Trainers)
- History Alive! (Trainer of Trainers)
Personal fact about me:
My husband, Jeremy, and I have been married for 17 years and, we have 3 children, all of which are in Jr. High this year! We also have 3 dogs, 2 turtles, 1 canary, 1 bearded dragon, and a pond full of fish. We love spending time together as a family fishing, travelling, or playing games.
Please reach out and let's collaborate!
Beth Klammer
Ext 4202
Cell: 936-672-7708 (text or call!)