Beyond LiteracyLink: About Me

Being a lifelong learner has afforded me the opportunity to:

notice and wonder about life, learning, and literacy
write with passion, an observant eye, and voice
ardently champion voice as a means to be creatively expressive
passionately promote positivity
use of one word each year to guide my life journey
be an ardent proponent of lifelong learning, reading, writing, creativity, and wonder
blend art, technology, and poetry to create digital inspirations
encourage the use of digital technology to integrate with the arts and literacy in active student-centered classroom

Currently, I am:

spending my unretirement days as an ELA Consultant-using my experience as a reading teacher, literacy specialist, and a districtwide literacy administrative to energize and impact K-12 teaching and literacy learning
moderator of NYEDChat, the voice of New York State educators and beyond (a professional learning community, PLN, on Twitter where I communicate with various state PLNs, international communities, and international educators and business community leaders
former Wonder Lead Ambassador for Wonderopolis
certified Wonderologist
poet
blogger
writer
creator and curator of the Reflect With Me Galleries of Artistic Expressions
member of blogging communities: Poetry Friday, Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers, Spiritual Journey Thursday (led by Margaret Simon)
presenter at local regional, state, and national conferences
Executive Board Member and Editor of the Long Island Language Arts Council (LILAC) Newsletter, News & Views
Adjunct ELA summer institute professor at Molloy College
Member of ILA, LILAC, Nassau Reading Council, NCTE, NYSEC

Links to My Profiles:

Beyond LiteracyLink http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carol.varsalona
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-varsalona-56387169
Twitter https://twitter.com/cvarsalona
Wonder Ground Website https://wg.wonderopolis.org/profile/Carol Varsalona.

Background:

I have extensive experience as a districtwide K-12 literacy administrator and educator, national/state conference presenter, and staff developer I'm multiple Long Island school districts and BOCES. I am dedicated to impacting K-12 teaching and literacy learning concentrating on the development of wonder and writer's voice. I am ardent about providing relevant and meaningful professional development that encourages educators to redesign their literacy classroom into student-centered, joyful havens of inquiry-based learning where collaboration and self-efficacy is evident. Upon request, I provide customized, engaging professional development opportunities to meet the needs of leaders, teachers, and students.

Professional Diploma in School District and Building Administration

CAS in Reading

MS in Developmental Reading

BA in English Education

Thank you for stopping by my blog to join me on my journey.

Carol