Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Publications
Presentations and Workshops
Timeline
Generic

Kirsten N. Chansky

Windham,ME

Summary

With 17 years of experience in teaching and educational leadership, I am passionate about fostering strong relationships and empowering educators to create equitable opportunities that promote a love for learning and drive academic achievement.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Title I Coordinator

RSU 14
08.2023 - Current
  • Led a comprehensive overhaul of reading instruction in two elementary schools at Tier 1 and intervention levels based on evidence-based practices, resulting in significant school-wide improvements in student literacy outcomes.
  • Planned and facilitated professional development on early literacy, including LETRS and The Writing Revolution.
  • Coordinate and monitor implementation of targeted and schoolwide Title I services to improve student achievement.
  • Analyze student performance data to identify needs, guide instructional planning, and allocate Title I resources effectively.
  • Establish collaborative relationships with neighboring districts through the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association to share innovative ideas, resources and strategies for success.
  • Organize parent involvement events, workshops, and communications to strengthen school-family partnerships and promote student success.

Educational Consultant

Maine Department of Education
08.2016 - Current
  • Conduct ELA test-item review to ensure quality, validity, and fairness for each item on standardized state assessments
  • Complete ELA standards review for Maine state standards and advise on adjustments
  • Construct integrated lessons for Maine's 1st Grade for ME curriculum
  • Design project-based, integrated learning pathways for the Continuity of Learning project
  • Serve on Selection Committee for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Response to Intervention Coordinator

SAD 55
08.2020 - 08.2023
  • Transformed Tier I instruction and interventions in early literacy to align with Science of Reading, resulting in measurable school-wide and individual student progress.
  • Led the development and implementation of a school-wide Response to Intervention process to identify and support students with academic and behavioral needs.
  • Enhanced teacher effectiveness by providing individualized coaching and professional development opportunities.
  • Analyzed student data, diagnosed instructional needs, and identified research-based instructional strategies for interventions.

District Coach: High-Impact Strategies, Brain-Based Learning & Assessment

MSAD 6
02.2017 - 07.2020
  • Delivered district-wide professional development to teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators on best practices in teaching and learning, including Assessment for Learning, and implications of neuroscience.
  • Developed a strategic action plan to identify district goals and action steps, track progress, and report to involved parties including administration and the school board.
  • Directly supported teachers by modeling, co-planning, co-teaching, and providing feedback.
  • Served as key member of the Curriculum Committee.
  • Launched and supported “Discovery Classrooms” engaging a team of teachers and paraprofessionals in high-quality professional development, collaborative and guided practice, reflection, and goal-setting.

First Grade Teacher

Buxton Center Elementary School
06.2015 - 11.2018
  • Serve as half-time district coach in assessment for learning K-12
  • Develop and deliver district PD on formative assessment strategies in STEM and other content areas
  • Deliver professional development on creating scoring criteria and rubrics
  • Deliver monthly professional development on assessment literacy
  • Support teachers developing and refining lessons and assessments

Regional Trainer & Consultant for Maine STEM Partnership

Maine Sciences Partnership
08.2013 - 01.2018
  • Reviewed and selected common, high quality instructional science resources aligned with NGSS to be recommended to Maine teachers
  • Provided professional development to hone teachers' skills in creating a culture of productive talk in the classroom, facilitating higher order thinking skills, and teaching students to engage in argument from evidence through writing
  • Collaborated with University of Maine scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians to increase content knowledge and content-specific pedagogical skills
  • Lead a district study group focused on building a supportive professional learning community
  • Served as a resource for colleagues integrating science teaching and learning with literacy and mathematics
  • Developed scoring criteria, rubrics, and assessments to monitor student growth and learning
  • Planned summits, institutes, and programs offered to other members of the Maine STEM Partnership in connection with the Research in STEM Education Center at the University of Maine
  • Served on the Leadership Committee for the Maine STEM Partnership

Education

Neuroteach Global: Mind, Brain, Education Science Certification

Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning
Potomac, MD
06.2025

M.S. Ed - Teacher Leadership

University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME
05.2020

Graduate Coursework, 12 credits

University of Maine
Orono, ME
05.2012

Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education

University of Maine
Orono, ME
05.2009

Skills

  • Certified LETRS facilitator
  • National Writing Project consultant
  • Application of educational neuroscience
  • Curriculum design
  • Response to Intervention
  • Data-Driven instruction

Accomplishments

  • Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) facilitator certification 2024-present
  • National Writing Project consultant 2016-present
  • LETRS Certificate of Mastery 2024
  • Graduated Summa Cum Laude 2020

Publications

Book Chapter: 

Visual literacy, learning and concept mapping in primary age children – neuro-positive strategies for brain-based learning

  • Leask, Marilyn, and Sarah Younie. Teaching and Learning with Technologies in the Primary School. Taylor & Francis, 6 May 2024.


Acknowledged Contributor:

Learning progressions, success criteria, and concept mapping examples; practitioner spotlight

  • Anita Stewart McCafferty, and Jeffrey S Beaudry. Teaching Strategies That Create Assessment-Literate Learners. Corwin Press, 12 Apr. 2018.

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Presentations and Workshops

  • Maine DOE: Emergent Literacy Series 2025
  • Regional School Unit 14: Science of Reading Word Recognition Series 2024-2025
  • School Administrative Unit 55: Science of Reading Series 2021-2022
  • Greater Sebago Education Alliance: Crucial Conversations Series 2019-2020
  • Corwin Visible Learning Conference: Assessment Literacy 2018
  • Maine Science Teachers Association: Assessment Literacy 2018
  • National Science Teachers Association: Assessment Literacy 2017
  • Research in STEM Education Leadership Institute: High Impact Strategies 2017

Timeline

Title I Coordinator

RSU 14
08.2023 - Current

Response to Intervention Coordinator

SAD 55
08.2020 - 08.2023

District Coach: High-Impact Strategies, Brain-Based Learning & Assessment

MSAD 6
02.2017 - 07.2020

Educational Consultant

Maine Department of Education
08.2016 - Current

First Grade Teacher

Buxton Center Elementary School
06.2015 - 11.2018

Regional Trainer & Consultant for Maine STEM Partnership

Maine Sciences Partnership
08.2013 - 01.2018

Graduate Coursework, 12 credits

University of Maine

Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education

University of Maine

Neuroteach Global: Mind, Brain, Education Science Certification

Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning

M.S. Ed - Teacher Leadership

University of Southern Maine

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