Regie Routman's, intimate knowledge of teaching,
leading, and coaching for more than forty years have made her one of the most
vibrant and respected names in literacy education. Her many books and resources
encourage teachers and leaders to take charge of their professional learning
and to create effective, efficient, and joyful practices. Her current focus is on
raising and sustaining whole school achievement as reflected in her actual
weeklong reading and writing residencies in diverse schools and her virtual
residencies in her video-based, literacy series: Regie Routman in Residence:
Transforming Our Teaching (2008, 2009) with its accompanying book, Teaching
Essentials (2008.) An outgrowth of her residency work, primarily in
high-needs schools with underserved students, has been to organize national Literacy
and Leadership Institutes and a conference on Urgency and School Change, the
latter in partnership with Seattle University (2011 and 2013.) Her newest
publication is Literacy and Learning Lessons from a Longtime Teacher
(2012.) See www.regieroutman.org for more information on her bio,
resources, blog, and professional development offerings.
Sandra Figueroa, brings to her role as presenter the “big picture” experience
of bilingual,
bicultural, teacher, former elementary school principal, former K-12 literacy
director in a large district, and co-writer and collaborator of Regie
Routman in Residence Professional Development Projects, and present high
school instructional coach. She was previously the Director of Literacy
for the Bellevue School District, Washington state, where she and Regie
implemented the Regie Routman in
Residence projects. Sandy is a very strong, collaborative leader and advocate for
students. She has a gift for bringing out the potential in every teacher
and knowing every child by name and by that child’s strengths. Currently, Sandy
is High School Instructional Specialist at a rural, high poverty school in Rio
Rico, Arizona.
Barbara Ide, Ed.D., is a recently retired
public school principal now working as a School Improvement Coach for the
Leadership and Learning Center™. Her current assignment is in a PreK – 4 elementary
school in an extremely high poverty area of Nashville, TN. She is also a School
Climate Consultant working with the TN Department of Education and Vanderbilt
University to ensure supportive learning environments in all schools to support
student achievement. Additional consultant duties have been as a facilitator
who trains middle school administrators in the Common Core State Standards for
English Language Arts. She has also worked for the National Association of
Elementary School Principals as a presenter at state level conferences in the
southeast. As a principal, Dr. Ide’s experience spanned 21 years and included
both elementary and middle school assignments in rural Indiana and the large
urban district of Nashville, TN. She was fortunate to work with Regie Routman,
who conducted a two-year residency at Lakeview Design Center in Nashville. In
her most recent administrative assignment, Thurgood Marshall Middle School,
teachers implemented the RRIR Project, Writing
for Audience and Purpose, beginning in 2008 and continuing today.
Machel Lucas serves as literacy coach in Nashville,
Tennessee. She has ten years of
classroom and instructional coaching experience at the middle school level. She is a Certified Common Core State
Standards Trainer, through The Leadership and Learning Center. Machel believes that through intentional and
sustainable school-wide professional development, as well as effective instructional
approaches, schools can significantly impact student learning and performance. Machel
remains inspired by her husband of 15 years, Woodrow Lucas, and two beautiful
daughters, Autumn, and Gabrielle.
Additionally, Regie will be joined by the following colleagues from Sandy Grade School:
Kim Ball believes that
literacy achievement is a key foundation to a successful academic career. She
has worked at the elementary and high school level for fifteen years beginning
her career as a secondary English teacher, then secondary administrator and now
elementary administrator. She believes that focused, ongoing staff
development while working with Regie Routman and the Regie Routman in Residence
program has been transformational for the staff and students at Sandy Grade
School. This is her second year at Sandy Grade School as the principal and
instructional leader.
Laurie Espenel began her journey in
education as an aide at PS 199 in the New York City Public School System. This led her to pursue a degree in
education. She graduated from the
University of Portland with a BA in Elementary Education and began her teaching
career in 1993 on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Central Oregon. In 1998, she relocated to Sandy, Oregon where
she is currently employed as a fifth grade teacher. She has worked with ESOL students and is
trained in SIOP, GLAD, and ELD instruction.
In 2006, Laurie was recognized for her contributions to education and
received the Milken Educator Award from The Milken Family Foundation and The
Oregon Department of Education. Laurie began working with
Regie Routman in 2010 and has been a member of the Sandy Grade School
Leadership Team throughout this residency program. She was the main reader-responder on Regie’s
latest book: Literacy and Learning
Lessons From a Longtime Teacher, published in 2012. A long-time learner and leader, Laurie brings
practical advice and techniques as she collaborates with staff members to
ensure student growth.
Kate Gordon possesses a passion for
excellence in literacy instruction and a dedication to continual, professional improvement. She brings with her an open, honest manner
and many years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher, Reading
Specialist and University Adjunct Professor. She has worked the last three years as
Literacy Leader at Sandy Grade School, supporting their work with Regie Routman
and the Regie Routman in Residence projects.
She has always held a strong moral
obligation to the success of her students and through this work has watched them
to achieve beyond their highest expectations.
Lindsay Jacksha brings joy and excitement to
her kindergarten classroom where every day begins a new literacy adventure.
After graduation from Western Oregon University, she became a kindergarten
teacher at Sandy Grade School in Sandy, OR. She has spent the last six years
teaching two half-day sessions of kindergarten and recently received her
Master’s in Education from Concordia University. Her work with Regie Routman
and the Regie Routman in Residence has
raised her expectations of what is possible in kindergarten. She is dedicated
to providing an abundance of strong literacy models, opportunities for
authentic practice, and an environment where accomplishments are celebrated
daily.