Director of the Institute for Innovative Community Learning: Dr. Janet Pilcher, Ph.D.

Janet Pilcher is the Director of the Institute for Innovative Community Learning. She recently served as the dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of West Florida . During her tenure as dean, the College of Professional Studies was considered the most innovative and technologically advanced unit on campus. Dr. Pilcher has published and presented over 50 refereed publications, and she generated approximately 15 million grant and contract dollars. On average, she produces about 22% of the total grant dollars at the university. Using this funding, she has also worked collaboratively with UWF Design Team members to design a number of state-of-the art technology products, including STEPS, The Lesson Architect™; PlanRight™; and TeacherReady™. Dr. Pilcher continues to an active community member in the greater Pensacola region. In particular, she initiated the Pensacola Hometown Learning Community in partnership with the City of Pensacola and the Escambia County School District.

Instructor: Dr. Kathy Heineken, Ed.D.

Kathy Heineken has been in education for nearly 30 years and has taught in elementary schools in Georgia, Florida, Kansas, and Colorado. She has taught students of all ages from PreK through the university level. She has been involved with literacy at all levels through adult. She has been a speech pathologist, elementary school teacher, and reading educator. She has also taught at Pensacola Junior College and is currently the Director of Student Teaching and Advising for UWF. She has supervised Teacher Education students from UWF in their field experiences. She works closely with Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Baldwin County to provide UWF students with exemplary teachers. She continues to volunteer with local schools to improve literacy rates.

Research Associate and Instructor: Kimberly Thomas, Ed.S.

Kimberly Thomas has a B.S. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, a M.Ed. in Reading Education, and an Ed.S. in Education Leadership. She is continuing coursework in the doctoral program at the University of West Florida. Kimberly is certified in Elementary Education, Reading, and Educational Leadership. Kimberly has served as an Elementary School Teacher, Reading Coach, and Reading First Grant Coordinator. As the Reading First Grant Coordinator, she served as a resource for students, teachers, and parents in 13 schools. Most of her work has been in the area of reading where she has co-presented at the state and international conferences in reading. She has received Certificates of Recognition in Academic and Achievement and Leadership in reading education. Kimberly has facilitated Reading Endorsement courses and served on the Florida Teacher Certification Examination Competency Board for reading education. Serving as a Professional Development Protocol Reviewer for the State of Florida, Kimberly conducts interviews, collects, reviews, and summarizes data to make judgments on the Protocol standards of school districts. Kimberly’s current position is a Research Associate at the Institute for Innovative Community Learning. She instructs students in the TeacherReady Program and is working to develop TeacherNotes Products. She also serves as an Internal Evaluator for The New Teacher Teach: Students Learn Academy.

Instructor: Colleen Starr, M.Ed.

Colleen Starr has been in education for over 20 years. She has taught at public schools in Texas and Florida and currently serves as a literacy coach for the Santa Rosa County, Florida School District. Ms. Starr has a B.A. in English and a M.Ed. in Reading; and she has received Florida K-12 Reading certification, Florida Secondary Language Arts certification, Florida Reading Endorsement certification, and Florida ESOL Endorsement certification. She has also received the honor of receiving National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification. Ms. Starr is affiliated with the University of West Florida Professional Education Council, National Staff Development Council, International Reading Association, Florida Reading Association, Florida Secondary Reading Association, Florida Literacy Coaches Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Council of Teachers of English, and Delta Kappa Gamma Honor Society for Women Educators. Ms. Starr received the 2008 Florida’s Region 1 Middle School Literacy Coach of the Year award, the Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Teacher of Northwest Florida award, and the Gulf Breeze High School Teacher of the Year. She was also listed in the Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers, and she was nominated for the Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women in Teaching and Education and the Disney American Teacher Award.

Instructor: Julie King, Ed.S.

Julie King has a B.A. in English, a M.Ed. in Secondary Education, and an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been an educator for over 10 years, and she has taught both middle and high school. Currently, Ms. King teaches English at Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Alabama. She is affiliated with the Alabama Education Association, the National Education Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, and the College Language Association.

Instructor: Kristin Cain, M.Ed.

Kristin Cain has been a teacher in Escambia County, Florida for 13 years. She has served as both a classroom teacher and a reading specialist. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Reading Education, and she is currently working on her Ed.S. in Educational Leadership. Ms. Cain has received the honor of being named a National Board certified teacher, and she is affiliated with the International Reading Association and the Florida Reading Association.

Instructor: Temitshia Brown, Ed.S.

Temitshia Brown has taught middle school science for 10 years. During this time, she received the title of Teacher of the Year. For over half of her career in education, Ms. Brown has been the chairperson for the science department in her school. In addition, Ms. Brown has served as a literacy leadership team member and a building leadership team member, and she has served as cheerleading sponsor. Ms. Brown also serves as a National Board Certification Training assessor, and she is affiliated with the Mobile County Educator’s Association, the American Educator’s Association, and the American Science Teachers Association. Ms. Brown has a B.S. in Nursing, a M.Ed. in Secondary Education with a focus in Biology, and an Ed.S. in Secondary Education.

Program Mentor: Katie Tener, B.S.

Katie received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of West Florida in Spring 1997.  Energized by the college atmosphere, she began her career with the following fall semester. In September 2006, she joined the Institute for Innovative Community Learning as the Office Administrator.  Her extensive knowledge of the TeacherReady™ program and special ability to communicate easily and effectively with the students made her the ideal candidate for Program Mentor. As Program Mentor, she begins working with perspective students as they enter the program and continues until their goal of becoming a professionally certified teacher in the state of Florida has been achieved. She is the primary contact when completing required paperwork, making payments for tuition, and assisting with questions or concerns about the program or curricula. Her work is not only with the students enrolled in the program but with the faculty, as well. She meets with the faculty regularly during each unit to discuss student’s progress, feedback from students, and any changes that should be addressed.