Mimi Darmody

Master Teacher

Master teachers are funded in New Jersey's State Preschool Program to provide and maintain high levels of quality by helping and supporting preschool teachers.  Their primary role is to visit classrooms and coach teachers using reflective practice to improve instruction. Specific responsibilities include:

Curriculum & Professional Development

• Visit classrooms on a regular basis to coach and provide feedback to teachers to improve teaching practices through the reflective cycle
• Coach teachers on the use of Performance-Based Assessments (Teaching Strategies GOLD, CORE, Work Sampling, etc.), including supporting quality assessment, interpretation of data and use of assessment data in planning.
• Administer structured program evaluation instruments (in assigned classrooms) in the fall-winter to measure quality practices in preschool classrooms (e.g., ECERS-3, SELA, PCMI, High/Scope Preschool Program Quality Assessment, Creative Curriculum Fidelity Tool, etc.)
• Use  performance-based assessment data and results of structured classroom observations to determine and support a high level of curriculum implementation Plan specific goals and training opportunities, including, but not limited to, modeling classroom practices and lessons, facilitating PLC meetings, and planning and implementing workshops, to improve weak areas identified from structured observation instruments (aggregated data), curriculum observation instruments, performance-based assessment results, district evaluation data, and other information
• Confer with early childhood supervisors to coordinate, articulate, and provide professional development for all early childhood staff
• Provide individualized follow-up support to the teacher's level of development and plan small group meetings/trainings for teachers with similar needs
• Reflect on own professional development needs, attend workshops, read research articles, consult with others, etc.

I can be reached at X 1291

or email- mdarmody@staffordschools.org