Curriculum & Instruction: Meet the Staff

Sylvia Méndez, Director of Curriculum & Instruction

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 228
sylvia_mendez@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

As Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mrs. Méndez is responsible for the District Professional Development plan, textbook adoptions, implementation of the GATE plan, Reading First, CAMSP, PE/Visual and Performing Arts and GEAR UP grants.

Mrs. Méndez has been a classroom teacher, BRT, elementary school principal before moving into the position of Director of Federal and State Programs then into the new position of Director of Curriculum and Instruction. This is Mrs. Mendez 28^th year in the district.

Caroline Calero, English Language Arts Coordinator

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 210
caroline_calero@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Working with the English Language Arts, HM Content and Reading Resource Teachers, as well as with site-based ELA Coaches, principals and classroom teachers, Ms. Calero supports the ...

Ms. Calero taught grades 3 - 6 for ... was ... GATE Resource Teacher, where she was instrumental in the devlopment of the Integrated Thematic Units. She was appointed ELA Coordinator this summer.

Learn more about English Language Arts
Curriculum and Instruction in PVUSD.

Melissa Christie, Mathematics Coordinator

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 369
melissa_christie@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Along with the Math Resource Teachers, Ms. Christie works to support classroom teachers in their teaching of mathematics. This work is part of a larger effort, PVUSD's involvement in CaMSP: the California Math and Science Partnership. The CaMSP grant is currently servicing 45 teachers in 19 schools in PVUSD.

Ms. Christie taught math for 13 years, and worked as a GEAR UP math specialist and a CaMSP math coach, before becoming PVUSD Math Coordinator.

Learn more about Mathematics
Curriculum and Instruction in PVUSD.

Lyn Olson, GATE Services Coordinator

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 334
lyn_olson@pvusd.net
District Office, 2^nd floor

The GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) office provides support to teachers and school sites in their efforts to meet the particular needs of academically advanced students. The focus of GATE Services in PVUSD is to assist teachers in differentiating their instruction for all learners, but especially to provide advanced students with opportunities to work at their challenge level. GATE also supports parents and teachers in meeting the social and emotional needs of gifted learners.

Ms. Olson taught grades 2 - 5 in Salinas and Aptos for 15 years. She has worked for the Packard Foundation as a science coach, for Susan Kovalik and Assoc. as a trainer and coach, for Reading for Real as a trainer and for Pat Belvel as a trainer in classroom management. She has been a GATE Resource Teacher for 6 years in PVUSD and was appointed as GATE Coordinator October, 2006. This year, she is also the GATE Resource Teacher for Amesti, Freedom, Ohlone and Valencia.

Learn more about PVUSD GATE Services in PVUSD.

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Ted Altenberg, GATE Resource Teacher

728-2144 or 728-2100 x 330
edward_altenberg@pvusd.net
District Office, 2^nd floor

As GATE Resource Teacher, Mr. Altenberg works with classrooom teachers to support their efforts to provide differentiated instruction that meets the individual needs of all their students, especially the advanced students.

Mr. Altenberg taught middle school science, math, computers and other subjects for 20 years, in a number of schools in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara County schools. He has also served as school site Technology Coordinator for several schools. He joined PVUSD as a GATE Resource Teacher July 2006.

Learn more about PVUSD GATE Services in PVUSD.

Margie Jennings, Physical Education Resource Teacher

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 367
margaret_jennings@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Ms. Jennings will facilitate the spending of special grant funds for Physical Education. She is available for staff development with whole school plans and grade level teams (elementary) and Physical Education Departments (secondary), as well as individual teachers to help them align their curriculum to the new California Physical Education Standards.

Ms. Jennings has taught Physical Education for over 20 years, including teaching at Salsipuedes Elementary, Aptos High School and Pajaro Middle School, and serving as a PVUSD mentor teacher. She has been an active member of the California Physical Education Workshop for over 13 years, including serving as director in 1998, Assistant Director in 2003 and on their Advisory Council for several years. She has presented workshops at the local, state and national levels.

Learn more about Physical Education
Curriculum and Instruction in PVUSD.

David Manier, GATE Resource Teacher

728-2144 or 728-2100 x 344
david_manier@pvusd.net
District Office, 2^nd floor

As GATE Resource Teacher, Mr. Manier works with classrooom teachers to support their efforts to provide differentiated instruction that meets the individual needs of all their students, especially the advanced students.

Mr. Manier taught 3^rd grade at Bradely Elementary school for 6 years. He started as a GATE Resource Teacher August 2006.

Learn more about PVUSD GATE Services in PVUSD.

Susan Megorden, VAPA Resource Teacher

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 225
susan_megorden@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Ms. Mergoden will facilitate the spending of special grant funds for Visual and Performing Arts as well as ongoing site funds for the arts. She can provide professional development in the arts to individual teachers, grade level teams, Visual and Performing Arts Departments and/or whole staffs, to help teachers align their curriculum to the California Visual and Performing Arts standards. She will also oversee the development of a District Arts plan.

Susan Megorden has taught visual art at E.A. Hall, Lakeview, and Aptos Jr. High for the past 25 years. During the school year of 1986-87, she was placed on special assignment to oversee the development of a Visual & Performing Arts Framework for our district. Through the California Arts Project she has worked as a teacher leader and trainer for standards based Arts education at both the county and state levels for the past 20 years.

Learn more about Visual and Performing Arts
Curriculum and Instruction in PVUSD.

Carolyn Savino, Professional Development Resource Teacher

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 551
carolyn_savino@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

As the Professional Development Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), Carolyn will work with school sites to deliver the professional development that their data indicate they need. She will help strengthen the components of "Redesigning Schools to Raise Achievement" at the site to develop stronger leadership and decision-making skills. As sites determine their needs for growth this year, she will assist in meeting those requests. She will also implement an evaluation process of all of the professional development offered to assure that the training meets the needs of the staff.

Ms. Savino's teaching career in PVUSD began in 1968. She has worked in grades 2 - 9, but has spent the bulk of her career at the middle school level, teaching language arts and math.

Learn more about Professional Development Services in PVUSD.

Katie Sedgewick, Elementary Language Arts Content Expert

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 367
katharine_sedgwick@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Katie Sedgwick is the K – 6 Language Arts Content Expert. Katie will be providing support and assistance to teachers, literacy coaches, and site administrators in the full and skillful implementation of the district's adopted reading/language arts program —Houghton Mifflin.

Ms. Sedgewick has taught in PVUSD, Santa Cruz City Schools, and San Francisco USD, where she was also a literacy coach. She came to us from Alameda County Office of Education, where she served as a content specialist in Houghton Mifflin and Open Court. She has been a trainer for teachers (SB472) and administrators (AB430) in Houghton Mifflin for five years.

Learn more about English Language Arts
Curriculum and Instruction in PVUSD.

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Marla Almaraz, Administrative Assistant

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 307
marla_almaraz@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Christina Oakden, Administrative Assistant

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 230
christina_oakden@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor

Zaida Raygoza, Administrative Assistant

786-2365 or 728-2100 x 297
zaida_raygoza@pvusd.net
District Office, 4^th floor