Kim Adams has dedicated over 40 years to the educational field in grades K-Adult Ed, teaching a variety of grades and subject areas, including 2nd grade, Kindergarten (14 years), high school and adult learners. She has worked in the field of technology since the 70s and has been a passionate technology pioneer throughout her career.
Kim was selected as one of the first Computer Resource Specialists (CRS) with Virginia Beach Public Schools in 1997. Other roles throughout her career include, Online Testing Specialist, and Distance Learning Specialist. She currently serves as an Instructional Technology Coordinator with Virginia Beach Schools, where she provides leadership in developing, achieving, and maintaining high quality technology integration into teaching and learning throughout all educational settings to support teachers in enhancing and transforming instruction, in order to improve student performance and assist students in becoming technologically savvy. She also coaches and supervises Instructional Technology Specialists, throughout the school division, to ensure the purposeful and intentional use of effective technology in the classroom and promotes and facilitates the effectiveness of a blended learning environment to increase student engagement and personalized learning.
Kim has earned her Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood from Old Dominion University, a Masters of Science in Information Assurance (Security) from Norwich University, and an Ed.S in Leadership & Administration K-12 from George Washington University.
She first began her higher-education career as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Tidewater Community College and returned to teach at her alma mater, Old Dominion University, in 2007.
In her spare time, she serves as a technology consultant, as well as a regional and national speaker at Instructional Technology Conferences around the country.
Teaching English for thirty-nine years, I have been fortunate to work with a wide variety of students as both a teacher and coach spanning early secondary to college and post-graduate levels. Fourteen of my early years teaching in New York, gave me opportunities to teach English in a middle school, high school and in an alternative high school for students with severe discipline and learning deficiencies. I taught English full-time on the faculty at Tidewater Community College in Chesapeake, Virginia for twenty-five years. I have served as English department chair at all levels. I taught conversational English, American culture and formal writing in a faculty exchange program in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Philosophy
My experience has shown me that students can be motivated to learn by effective teachers. They may demonstrate apprehension, be under-prepared or lack confidence—especially in writing—but, I've often found these students can shine with caring and purposeful assistance to give them the tools to be successful.
Education
BA English Education. SUNY Cortland (1975)
MA English, SUNY Stony Brook (1980)
45 credits beyond MA (Old Dominion University, Stony Brook University, Dowling College, Goddard College, Long Island University)
Endorsements/courses taught for Career Switcher Program (16 years)
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English K-12
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Writing to Learn Across the Disciplines
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Effective Teacher Questioning Skills
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Instructional Content Strategies - Secondary Language Arts, 6 -12
Level II workshops
- Poverty: Student Achievement for Rural & Urban Learners
- Parents: A User's Guide
- Professional Communication Skills for Teachers
- First-Year Teaching
Dr. Alana Balthazar has worked in public education for 23 years. She has served as a classroom teacher, Reading Specialist, Instructional Specialist, Assistant Principal and currently serves as a Principal. Further, she was recognized as a Champion of Diversity for Old Dominion University.
Education
- BS Early Childhood Education/English
- M.Ed. Educational Leadership
- Ph.D. Educational Leadership/Human Resources
Endorsement
- Postgraduate Professional License
- Administration and Supervision PK-12
Courses Taught for Career Switcher Program
- Design for Effective Instruction
- Elementary Content
- Classroom Management (Elementary and Secondary)
- Level II (Diversity in the Classroom)
Connect with Bridgette Berthold
Education
- Old Dominion University, 2007 -- Bachelors in Science (Health and Physical Education Degree)
- Regent University, 2013 -- Masters in Education (K-12 Supervision and Administration)
PreK-12 Teaching Experience
- 2007-2013 Granby High School, Health and Physical Education
- 2013-2019 Green Run High School, Health and Physical Education and Driver's Education
- 2019-2020 Green Run High School, School Improvement Specialist
- 2020-2021 Green Run High School, Administrative Assistant
- 2021-present Green Run High School, Assistant Principal
Accolades
- 2021-present Green Run High School, Assistant Principal Made in Virginia Award (VA Lottery 2018
- Teacher of the Year (Green Run High School 2018)
- Female Coach of the Year (Green Run High School 2016, 2017, 2018)
- "I Make a Difference" Recognition (2015, 2016, 2017)
- NPS Inspiration Award- Most Outstanding Instructional Team (2009)
"My experience teaching in the CS program has been such an incredible journey. It is so refreshing to work with people who want to switch their career to education and they come with a wealth of experience that is applicable to the classroom. Working with mature adults who have already experienced the real world is motivating and encouraging that we are getting great teachers who WANT to teach students and know that they have a hard task in front of them but are up for the challenge. The program is set up in a way where instructors and students can build solid relationships and really guide them through the process of what they need to know to be a successful teacher in the future. I have really enjoyed this experience and am thankful for the opportunity to be an instructor for the Old Dominion Career Switcher Program.
"My personal educational philosophy has changed over the years as I have shifted from a classroom teacher into a leadership role. There is one thing in my philosophy that will never change and that is my passion and love for students. Every student deserves one adult to love them and these days you just never know what students are going through at home and as teachers our jobs go further than the classroom and curriculum. We are called to build relationships with students, get to know them, help them find their passion and way in life, through teaching and learning. I am a big believer in thinking innovatively, doing things differently, failing at trying new things-only to succeed when I try again, and being the best I can be for each and every student so that they believe in themselves and can have fun while learning!"
Connect with CJ Butler
C. J. Butler, Master Lecturer, CDSE
Undergraduate Program Director - SPED
Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him.....Thomas Carlisle
C. J. Butler earned both his Bachelor of Science degree in HPER and Master of Science degree in special education from Old Dominion University. Currently he is a Master Lecturer in the Communication Disorders/Special Education department. Mr. Butler was named the Distance Learning Faculty of the Year in 1999 and most recently (2011) received the DCOE award for Teaching Excellence. Mr. Butler worked for over 7 years at the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Old Dominion University, providing training and technical assistance to school divisions throughout Virginia. He has worked in both public and private school systems as a teacher and administrator. He has extensive experience as a trainer and presenter at the local, state, and national level. His areas of interest include: working with students with challenging behavior; collaboration and consultation; and, effective models of quality instruction for students with disabilities.
Education
- Master of Science degree in special education, Old Dominion University
- Bachelor of Science degree in HPER, Old Dominion University
Endorsements/Courses Taught for Career Switcher Program
- Human Growth & Development
- Special Needs
As a National Language Consultant for Vista Higher Learning, Ms. Carson currently shares her expertise in language acquisition with teachers and trains them to implement print and digital world language and literacy resources. She served two-and-a-half years as Curriculum Coordinator for Wayside Publishing Company, where she established the pedagogic vision for its proficiency-centered French and Spanish textbooks. For eight years, Ms. Carson served as Coordinator of K-12 World Languages for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. In that role, she was responsible for developing curriculum and performance-based common assessments, facilitating professional development, and supervising instruction for 180+ world language teachers in nine languages, a Spanish Partial Immersion Program at three elementary schools and one middle school, and a grant-funded Summer Russian and Mandarin Chinese STARTALK Academy for elementary school students. A former I.B. French, and Spanish teacher at all levels K-12, Ms. Carson has experience with varied classroom environments and expertise in second language acquisition, technology integration, equitable practices, and proficiency-based grading. She frequently presents on these topics at state, regional, and national conferences. Ms. Carson remains abreast of trends in the field and serves the world language community in many capacities, currently as Teacher Education & Professional Learning Chair of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) and as Past President of both the Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors (VOWLS) and the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NADSFL).
Education
- B.A., Bryn Mawr College
- M.Ed., University of Virginia
- J.D., Duke University School of Law
- ODU Career Switcher 2005 Winter Cohort
- Endorsements: PreK-12 French, PreK-12 Spanish, Secondary English, Administration and Supervision.
Accolades
- 2006 Norfolk Public Schools Inspiration Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Education
- 2009 Norfolk School Board Commendation of Distinction
- 2014 Alliance Française Chapitre de Grasse Commendation
- 2015 Virginia Beach City Public Schools Department of Teaching and Learning High Flyer Award
- 2018 inducted as a Chevalier in the French Order of the Academic Palms
- 2019 Virginia Board of Education Resolution of Recognition
Endorsements/Courses Taught for Career Switcher Program
- Culturally Responsive Practices / Foreign Language Methods / Design for Effective Instruction /
- Issues and Answers / School Law / Student Assessment / The Teacher as a Professional
Gabrielle Kozak began her career in education in 1996 as a first grade teacher. Throughout her career, she worked in both public and private education, as a classroom teacher, literacy teacher, interventionist, Instructional Consultation Coach, a Literacy Coach, a Reading Specialist and most recently a Response to Intervention Teacher Specialist for the Curriculum and Instruction Office in Norfolk Public Schools.
Education
- University of Virginia M. Ed.: Reading, 2007
- Christopher Newport University Certificate: Early Childhood Education, 1995
- Old Dominion University B.S. Marketing Management, 1992
Endorsements
- NK-5
- Reading Specialist K-12
- Teacher Mentor
Courses Taught for Career Switcher Program
- Level 1 Reading Strategies
- Level 1 Reading Methods
- Level 1 Helping Students Become Confident Readers
Gina Mancuso-Sidhu is the Administration and Marketing Coordinator in the Office of Career & Technical Education with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Mrs. Mancuso-Sidhu holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Longwood University and a Master of Arts in Education & Human Development from the George Washington University. Prior to entering the educational field, she worked in the business arena for ten years as a Merchandise Manager for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
She has taught fourteen different business & information technology and marketing courses at the high school level during a twelve-year period. She is currently teaching Instructional Content Strategies for Business & Marketing Education in the Career Switcher Program.
Mrs. Mancuso-Sidhu's professional portfolio includes work on managing groups in the secondary classroom, study skills for the at-risk student, curriculum design and professional development for Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers. She has written and received a multitude of education grants and has won the prestigious PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) National Financial Literacy Award in 2014.
Arlene Martin has worked for 33 years in public schools in grades PK-12, teaching a variety of art courses to include AP Studio and AP Art History. She has earned BA, M Ed and Ed S degrees. She has Principal Licensure in Virginia, taught in both the US and Europe, been selected Teacher of the Year, and developed numerous curriculum guides, She is an ODU Adjunct Assistant professor who taught both Art Education and Studio Art courses, is currently teaching Education courses for the Teaching and Learning Department, and has been an instructor for the Career Switcher Program for 15+ years.
Education
- BA Towson State College
- M Ed Towson State University
- Ed S University of Virginia
Endorsements/Courses Taught for Career Switcher Program
- Art Education
Jim Pomozzi is a graduate of the Old Dominion Military Career Transition Program. He has been the Math Department Head at Crestwood Middle School in Chesapeake since 1999, and has been an Old Dominion/ Career Switcher Instructor since 1999.
Education
- B.A. Political Science Gannon University 1979
- M.S. Education Old Dominion University 1994
PreK-12 Teaching Experiences
- Mathematics Teacher, Crestwood Middle School (1999-present)
- Mathematics Dept. Chair, Crestwood Middle School (2000-present)
Endorsements/Courses Taught for Career Switcher Program
- Exploring the Curriculum Frameworks
- Instructional Content Training -- Secondary/PK12 Mathematics
- Differentiation of Instruction
- How's Your First Year Going? (Level II)
Other Post-Secondary Teaching
- Special Education in Mathematics (SPED 418/518), ODU
"My philosophy of education is that all children are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. As a teacher, it has always been my desire to create this type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential. In an attempt to help youth, reach their potential, I tutor for both the Tutor-A-Team and the YMCA in their Academic Achievers Program. I reside in Great Bridge in Chesapeake with my wife Patricia of 40 years. In our spare time we like to hike with our 2 standard poodles, Pippa and Primrose. I have received many awards and accolades during my 24 years in education but what makes me most proud is when I see a student from many years before and they go out of their way to say, 'Hello.'"