Douglas Fisher, Ph.D.
Dr. Fisher is Professor of Language and Literacy Education in the Department of Teacher Education at San Diego State University and a classroom teacher at Health Sciences High & Middle College. He is a member of the California Reading Hall of Fame and is the recipient of several awards including the International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award, the Farmer award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English, and the Christa McAuliffe award for excellence in teacher education. He has published numerous articles and books on school-wide approaches to improving student achievement, reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, assessment, and curriculum design. He is a board member of the Literacy Research Association (formerly the National Reading Conference) and co-editor of NCTE’s middle level journal, Voices from the Middle. He is highly sought after for his dynamic and engaging professional development workshops.
Kate Kinsella, Ed.D.
Dr. Kinsella develops custom coursework for employed educators in San Francisco State University’s Center for Teacher Efficacy. Her extensive national consultancy, training, and publications focus upon improving achievement of language minority youth. She maintains active classroom involvement by teaching high school English Learners in SFSU’s Step to College Program and providing in-class coaching and model lessons. Dr. Kinsella is proud of the programs she has recently developed to prepare English Learners for Common Core language demands. The Academic Vocabulary Toolkit (2012) published by National Geographic Learning develops mastery of high-utility vocabulary for academic success. English 3D (2011) published by Scholastic addresses the academic oral language and writing needs of adolescent English Learners. Dr. Kinsella also served as the pedagogy guide for Oxford University’s Content Area Picture Dictionaries and Longman’s entire suite of dictionaries for K-12 English Learners. Handout: PowerPoint
Sandra Tarlen Tesch
Sandra Tarlen Tesch’s life story is a powerful example of forgiveness. Sandra has shared her message of “Victim to Victory” on radio and TV, with various organizations and churches, and as a speaker for many retreats across America and beyond.
As a four year old she received first, second, and third degree burns to her face in a gasoline fire. Though severely scarred and cruelly treated by other children, Sandra maintained a secret dream of becoming beautiful. However, many surgeries through the years resulted in more fear and pain. Because she was raised in an abusive home filled with emotional turmoil, she believed no one loved her. Hurt and rejection became her constant companions. After being sexually molested by an elderly neighbor and gang raped at age 12, she was filled with bitterness and hate. Seeking to soothe her inner pain led her to anorexia, bulimia, migraines, ulcers, alcohol and drug abuse, and two suicide attempts. Sandra had two children by age 17 and four divorces by age 25. Life seemed hopeless.
After a powerful spiritual experience in 1982 she had a dramatic change in her heart along with a new desire to live. She was able to move from being a victim of many circumstances to a victor over them. Bitterness and hate were replaced with love and compassion. Emotional peace and the healing of relationships followed. Sandra was able to forgive the ones who hurt, abused, and rejected her. Since then she has had a heart to help others find freedom, peace, love and forgiveness through speaking, counseling and teaching, much of which has been done in prisons.