Project Personnel

The Writing Lab Outreach Project was a collaborative initiative of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Public Schools. The project was supported by an Advisory Council consisting of project staff, public school personnel, and parents. Key project personnel are listed below.

Director: Nickola Wolf Nelson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

• Professor, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008-5355
• Phone: (269) 387-8058
• Email: nickola.nelson@wmich.edu

Co-Director: Christine M. Bahr, Ph.D.

• 1988-1998 - Associate Professor of Special Education, Western Michigan University
• 1998-1999 - Visiting Associate Professor of Special Education, Indiana
  State University.
• 1999-2000 - Associate Professor, Education Department, Saint
  Mary-of-the-Woods College
• 2000-2004 - Chair, Education Department, SMWC (also promoted to Full
  Professor in 2004)
• 2004-2006 - Assistant Academic Dean and Professor of Education, SMWC
• 2006-2007 - Interim Chief Academic Officer, SMWC
• 2007-present - Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs , SMWC
• E-mail: cbahr@smwc.edu

Project Coordinator: Adelia Van Meter, M.S., CCC-SLP

• 2001-2007, Master Faculty Specialist, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008–5355
• 2008-present, Adjunct Faculty, Western Michigan University
• Email: adelia.vanmeter@wmich.edu

Kalamazoo Public Schools: Pat Cole Chalmers

• Assistant Superintendent, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
• Email: chalmersp@kalamazoo.k12.mi.us

Kalamazoo Public Schools: Cindy Green

• Special Education Director, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
• Email: greenc@kalamazoo.k12.mi.us

Project Participants

Many teacher partners and graduate students have assisted with and participated in Writing Lab Outreach activities over the years. They have our deepest gratitude. Those who took part in the primary grant-supported activities are listed below.

Key Staff

• Dr. Nickola Wolf Nelson, Co-Primary Investigator, Professor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University
• Dr. Christine M. Bahr, Co-Primary Investigator, Chair of the Department of Teacher Education, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, IN.
• Adelia Van Meter, Project Coordinator, Assistant Clinical Professor at Western Michigan University
• Joyce Gard, Administrative Assistant and budget manager, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo Public School Administrators

• Dr. Janice Brown, Superintendent  (years 3 and 4)
• Dr. Pat Coles-Chalmers, Assistant Superintendent (years 3 and 4)
• Cindy Green, Director of Special Education (years 3 and 4)
• Dr. Kay Royster, Superintendent (years 1 and 2)
• Patricia Williams, Director of Special Education (years 1 and 2)
• Audrey Fitzgerald, Curriculum Coordinator (years 1 and 2)
• Yvonne Payton, Assistant Superintendent (years 1 and 2)

Consultants

• Dr. Kathryn Kinnucan-Welsch, University of Dayton
• Dr. Candace Bos, University of Texas at Austin (now deceased)
• Dr. Janet Sturm, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Kara McAlister, doctoral student, University of Illinois-Chicago

Sponsors of Intensive Outreach Workshops

• Sally Disney, Hamilton County, Ohio, Special Service Center
• Dr. Maureen Staskowski, Macomb, MI, Intermediate School District

Milwood Elementary School Development Team Members

• Carl Czuchna, principal
• *Sharon Lawson, 3rd grade teacher
• *Roger Fleming, 3rd grade teacher
• *Greg Socha, 1st grade teacher
• Pam Ward, special education teacher
• *Kathy Palmer, computer lab coordinator

      * This person served as Summer Institute instructor as well.

Graduate Assistants

• Carrie Nagayda
• Anna Putnam

Outreach Teams (Summer Institute participants & outreach instructors)
Team 1, Benton Harbor, MI

• Shelley Griffin, special education teacher
• Toni Doswell, 5th grade teacher

Team 2, Bridgman, MI

• Shirley Cole, 3rd grade teacher
• Shirley Hoag, special education teacher

Team 3, Patterson-Kennedy Elementary, Dayton, OH

• Cheryl Zinck, special education teacher
• Molly Spears, teacher of hearing impaired children
• Heidi Riffle, special education teacher
• Debbie Tauber, kindergarten teacher
• Joan Morgan, 1st grade teacher

Team 4, Northeastern Elementary, Kalamazoo, MI

• Lisa Barkovich, 3rd grade elementary teacher
• Wilma Virkus, instructional specialist

Team 5,  (upper elementary) Kalamazoo, MI

• Heidi Nestell, Hillside elementary special education teacher
• Flo Thole, Chime elementary teacher

Team 6, Edison School, Kalamazoo, MI

• Nikki Jenkins, early elementary teacher
• Marsha Bettison, early elementary teacher

Washington Writers’ Academy Development Team Members

• Barbara Witzak, principal
• *Dawn Chamberlain, speech-language pathologist
• *Anne Lape, publication house teacher
• *Christy Roth, 3rd grade teacher
• Kathy Sandow, 3rd grade teacher
• *April Widner, special education teacher
• *Beverly Wilson, 3rd grade teacher
• Sylvia Washington, 1st grade teacher
• Charlene Cromwell, 2nd grade teacher

      * Served as Summer Institute instructor as well.

Graduate Assistants

• Karey Hill
• Anna Putnam
• Melanie Lynam

Outreach Teams (Summer Institute participants & outreach instructors)
Team 7, Comstock, MI

• *Laura Jane Van Niman, 1st/2nd grade teacher
• *Shawn McMeekan, 1st/2nd grade teacher
• *Janet DeZwaan, speech-language pathologist

* This team participated in the research on student progress.
Team 8, San Antonio, TX

• Karen Biggerstaff, speech-language pathologist and technology specialist

Team 9, Amarillo, TX

• Mary Ann Ellis, speech-language pathologist and music therapist

Team 10, Kalamazoo, MI

• Irma Johnson, elementary teacher

Spring Valley Center for Exploration Development Team Members

• Kevin Campbell, principal
• *Angela Neaton, 3rd grade teacher/special education certified
• *Shirley Schostarez, 3rd grade teacher/special education certified
• Karie Hokenmaier, 3rd grade teacher

      * Served as Summer Institute instructor as well
Graduate Assistants

• Karey Hill
• Carrie Kopitzki
• Kathy Enslen

Outreach Teams (Summer Institute participants & outreach instructors)
Team 11, Battle Creek, MI

• Carol Sewell, speech-language pathologist

Team 12, Arcadia Elementary, Kalamazoo, MI

• Fran Bartocci, special education teacher
• Tracy Wilson, elementary teacher

Team 13, Central High School, Kalamazoo, MI

• Fannie Charles, special education teacher
• Lynel Hackley, special education teacher
• Linda Lee, secondary English teacher

Team 14, Lincoln Elementary, Dayton, OH

• Elizabeth Damico, early elementary teacher
• Maura Fitsgerald, early elementary teacher

Team 15, Parkwood Elementary, Kalamazoo, MI

• Susan Dragt, 5th/6th elementary teacher
• Kristin Vankirk, 5th grade elementary teacher
• Mindy McNulty, special education teacher

Spring Valley Development Team Addition

• Laura Zigmont, speech-language pathologist

Spring Valley Center for Exploration Development Teams

• Kevin Campbell, principal

Upper Elementary Development Team (Sept.-Dec., 2001)

• Patty Buckingham, 5th grade teacher
• Michelle Keene, 5th grade teacher
• Jennifer Garrow, 4th grade teacher
• Dawn Hosler, 4th grade teacher
• Sarah Corwin, special education teacher

2nd Grade Development Team (Jan.-April, 2001)

• Julie Jones, 2nd grade teacher
• Beth Vargas, 2nd grade teacher
• Cheryl Wright, 2nd grade teacher

Graduate Assistants

• Carrie Kopitzki
• Amanda Luna-Bailey
• Kristen Kopacz

Graduate Trainees (in Language and Literacy for Diverse Populations Project)

• Connie Squires Van Dussen
• Katie Shangraw
• Marianne Dykema
• Jeni Scherer

 

This material was developed by the Writing Lab Outreach Project (WLOP), funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, Grant #H324R980120, 9/1/98 - 8/31/01. Permission is granted to copy and disseminate this information. If you do so, please cite the WLOP. Contents do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the WLOP, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Public Schools, or the U.S. Government.