Kerry Winer
Education:
Masters in Education, Middle School and English Certification, Lesley College, 1993
Bachelor of Arts, English and Sociology, University of Hartford, 1986
Tutor Subjects:
K-12 Academic Subject Tutoring
K-12 Academic Tutoring
Admissions Services
Essay Coaching
Certifications:
Principal/Assistant Principal Certification, Administrative Internship Program (5–8), Commonwealth Leadership Academy, 2005
Kerry has been teaching for over 30 years, specializing in English Language Arts. She tutors students in grades 6 through 12 in reading and writing skills, including students for whom English is not their first language. She also has extensive experience in private school and college admission essay support and editing/proofreading. Additionally, she has taught at the graduate level at a number of colleges in Massachusetts. She has experience working with students with a wide range of special needs, especially language-based learning needs. She currently serves as a literacy coach at a middle school in Massachusetts. She enjoys developing personalized materials to meet the specific needs of her students, and served for 10 years as an ELA curriculum resource specialist, among many other positions providing curriculum development and training.
Kerry says: “My educational philosophy is simple. I believe that all students can learn. In my work as a middle school educator, I have dedicated myself to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students to thrive. I know the importance of maintaining high standards and fostering quality education for all students. I have established myself as an educational leader and role model within my school community and district. I have initiated and implemented numerous programs that extend far beyond the classroom. I have been recognized for my innovative and effective teaching practices, extensive knowledge of ELA curriculum, and ability to create and utilize community partnerships and resources. I was awarded the Frederick Sontag Prize Recognizing Excellence in Urban Education in 2014. My pedagogy fosters and encourages critical and independent thinking while encouraging discourse regarding equity and social justice issues in the world. Furthermore, I incorporate texts and materials from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints. Students can see themselves in the texts we read. My curriculum is steeped in culturally relevant, anti-biased texts and topics promoting equity and inclusion. Students feel that their voices are heard and valued through group work that brings together diverse perspectives, promoting teamwork and mutual understanding. Lessons and activities are connected to students’ lives and varied experiences through multimodal, multigenre texts free of bias. I am an advocate ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need through academic coaching, counseling and mentorship.
In addition, I have been published by the Department of Education for my outstanding community service-learning initiatives, and I have designed a new curriculum on character education, which is currently being implemented at the eighth grade level. I have served on the MCAS standards-setting panel and MCAS Development Committee. As a district committee member in ELA, I continue my work aligning curriculum frameworks and standards with current resources, redesigning classroom layout, coaching and mentoring new teachers, implementing numerous school and district-wide initiatives in both curriculum and professional development, analyzing and reporting on MCAS data to inform effective teaching methods and practices, and adapting and implementing effective instruction and assessment to support standard-based, mastery learning. When I am not working, I enjoy practicing yoga and pilates, taking spin classes and reading. I have a home in Colorado where I spend my summers hiking, playing pickleball, golf and fly fishing.“