Teachers' Institute 2013 Instructors

Faculty Bios

Ann M. Bain, D.Ed., has been in the field of learning disabilities for over 30 years. She has taught in both public and private school settings as well as at The Johns Hopkins University, Currently, she is adjunct faculty at both Loyola University and Goucher College. She provides diagnostic/prescriptive evaluations and tutors children and adults with Specific Language Disabilities.  She also is an instructor at the Dyslexia Tutoring Program where she trains volunteer tutors and gives workshops on tutoring the dyslexic student. Ann was the first recipient of the R.M.N. Crosby lifetime achievement award as well as the Distinguished Alumna Award presented by  Albertus Magnus College. She is a Fellow in the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practioners and Educators. Ann has written several articles and workbooks and co-authored Written Language Disorders: Theory into Practice.

Barbara Bisset is a retired principal and executive director of professional development with the Baltimore County Public Schools. She received her undergraduate degree from Towson University and her master's degree from The Johns Hopkins University. She currently teaches graduate education courses in curriculum development and instructional leadership at Goucher College.

Heather Dexter is a math support teacher in Howard County Public Schools. In that role, she provides professional development about mathematics to teachers at her school and throughout Howard County. She has presented regionally and nationally about ways to engage students in mathematics. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Salisbury University. She completed her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, with a certificate in Administration and Supervision, through McDaniel College.

Rebecca Fischer is a resource teacher in the Office of Secondary Language Arts for Baltimore County Public Schools. She holds a B.S. from Towson University and a M.Ed. from Goucher College.  Rebecca provides professional development literacy presentations for all content areas and grade levels. She is a certified regional trainer of the Language! intervention program and a regional trainer of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling).

Maureen Flanigan teaches an inclusion Pre-Kindergarten program at Essex Elementary School.  She has over 39 years of experience working with special education students from Pre-K to high school.  Maureen has experience with a variety of disabilities, learning styles, behaviors and unique methods of instruction in both private and public schools.  She has been teaching graduate and undergraduate courses for the past 17 years. 

Rebecca Gault has served as a middle school language arts teacher for the past 22 years in Harford County Public Schools.  Rebecca has a Master of Arts in Teaching; Master of Science in Professional Writing; and a certification in Administration and Supervision-all from Towson University.  A published author, she has written nine books involving secondary literacy; her most recent is entitled, Highly Effective Strategies to Help Your Struggling Students Meet the Common Core Literacy Standards.

Rebecca has been trained as a Master Teacher in the Common Core Standards through her work with the Maryland State Department of Education and, in this capacity, provides ongoing staff development to the teachers in her district and across the state.  Additionally, she is a national presenter, travelling to 27 states to share her creative teaching ideas to over 20,000 educators over the last 13 years.  Within her school, she serves as the School Improvement Team Facilitator, English Department Chair, and Professional Development School Coordinator.

Leslie Grahn is a resource teacher in the Office of Professional and Organizational Development for Howard County Public Schools in Maryland.  In her role, she works in the areas of teacher and leadership development for which she plans and facilitates professional learning experiences for new and veteran teachers and district leaders across content areas and levels. Leslie is a course instructor and a frequent session and workshop presenter at local, state, regional, and national conferences, specializing in best practices such as hands-on, interactive strategies, and about topics such as student engagement, formative assessment, and differentiated instruction. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in French and Secondary Education and her Master's of Education in Administration and Supervision from Loyola College. 

Margaret Meacham is the award-winning author of 15 novels for children and young adults, and an adult mystery novel titled, The Survival of Sarah Landing. Her young adult novels include Oyster Moon, which recently has been optioned for film by Green Films LLC, Secret of Heron Creek, A Mid-Semester Night's Dream, and her latest, The Ghosts of Laurelford. Her books are sold internationally with two titles have been translated into French and German. She has written reviews, articles and short stories for numerous publications including Library Journal, Country Magazine, Successful Student Magazine, Maryland Magazine, Highlights for Children, Baltimore Magazine, and The Baltimore Sun. 

Honors and awards include: Judge, NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature 2012; Judge, Maryland Writer's Association Writing Competition, 2008 and 2009, Keynote Speaker, Baltimore CityLit Festival 2008, Bethesda Literary Festival Featured Author, 2007, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Presenter 2003-2005, Healy Lecturer, Roland Park Country School, 2000, Maryland Notable Author Award, 1998. Highlights for Children Humorous Stories' Award.

Warren Nelson has been part of the Teachers' Institute since its
inception.  He taught English in Harford County and has offered multiple technology workshops for Harford County Public Schools in Maryland as well as for Goucher College.

Andrea Parrish works as a lecturer in the special education department at Towson University. Her professional experiences and interests lie in the area of autism spectrum disorders, individuals with significant cognitive impairments, and early childhood special education. Andrea obtained her undergraduate degree in special education from Towson University, graduate degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University, and state certificate in educational administration from Goucher College. She has taught in early childhood and elementary classrooms as a special educator and worked in the Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Special Education providing instructional and compliance support to schools across the district.

Nancy Perkins is a resource teacher in the Office of Secondary Language Arts for Baltimore County Public Schools. She holds a B.S. from Towson University and a M.A. from Loyola College.  Nancy provides professional development literacy presentations for all content areas and grade levels. She is a certified regional trainer of the Language! intervention program and a regional trainer of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling).

Claire Salkowski has been a leader in the field of education for over 35 years. She was the founder and Head of the Free State Montessori School and is currently a professional Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) specialist and Director of Mediation and Education Programs at Mosaic Community Services, an affiliate of Sheppard Pratt. She is the previous Director of the Montessori Education Program at Delaware State University and has been a faculty member at numerous Montessori teacher training programs.  She has been an adjunct associate professor at Goucher College, Chestnut Hill College, Delaware State University, and UMBC.  Claire holds a Master of Science in Emotional Disturbances from Johns Hopkins University, was State-certified in Special Education, and is Montessori (AMS)-certified for 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 year olds. Claire also has earned 30 credits in School Psychology.  She has written and developed curriculum in mediation and peace education and has published numerous articles on the topic of peace education and mediation. Claire is currently on the Board of the Montessori International Council.