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
• 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
• former Executive Board Member and Editor of the Long Island Language Arts Council (LILAC) Newsletter, News & Views
• former 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
• former Adjunct ELA summer institute professor at Molloy College, Long Island, NY
• Member of ILA,  and NCTE

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

I often write poetry about the seasons and nature.

Blogging since 2014

Newest Creative Publication on Social Media: One Word 2021 Sanctuary of Thought