Consultant and Speaker
Stephanie is a credentialed professional educator with over 35 years of experience in the education field.
As a consultant, Stephanie is experienced in providing effective leadership to guide and improve educational programs, utilizing data and evidence-based instructional strategies, communicating with a diverse educational population, and supporting the development of high quality educational environments.
Stephanie is a professional development speaker and has presented over 100 workshops at local, state and national conferences. She designs and delivers staff professional development that is highly motivating, evidence-based, and provides practical strategies for teachers to implement which leads to SUCCESS for every student!
Her focus is to present hands-on workshops to educators that demonstrate how to successfully implement research and evidence-based instructional strategies and practices that will have a positive impact on student achievement.
Consulting Firms I Work With
Side By Side Educational Consulting
Instructional Consultant since August 2017.
Currently Consulting For:
- Ronan Middle School and High School - Science Team
Montana Comprehensive Literacy School District Program:
-
Whitehall School District, Whitehall, Montana
-
Montana School for the Deaf and Blind, Great Falls, Montana
-
Libby Elementary School, Libby, Montana
Michele Douglass School Solutions (MDSS)
Owner Dr. Michele Douglass
Providing consulting services for middle and high school science teachers since July 2016.
Currently Consulting For:
- Middle School Science, High School Science and Early Literacy TK - 3rd grade at Riverside Preparatory School, Oro Grande, CA
2022 Workshops
2022 Montana Literacy and Education Conference
August 5th - 7th | Helena, Montana
A Sound Beginning: The Importance of Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
August 5th, 2022
Phonological awareness involves the development of auditory skills, which are later connected to a child’s understanding of the written word (Fitzpatrick, 1997; Phillips, 2008). The research is clear that it is during the preschool years that much of this awareness is developed. This interactive session will contain a review of research related to phonological awareness, including the phonological awareness continuum of developmental stages. Ultimately, participants will learn why phonological awareness is important and how to address it as a part of a comprehensive early childhood program, including easy methods for implementing it in the classroom in fun and interactive ways.
Note: This session aligned to the Montana Learning Standards (MELS) for the domains of Communication and Cognition.
Classroom Strategies to Support Executive Functioning Skills
Executive Functioning: Skills That Make a Big Difference for Children
August 6th, 2022
Why all the talk about executive functioning? If you’d like to become more familiar with helping to develop your students’ executive functioning skills then this is the training for you. Adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization are all executive functioning skills that can be encouraged in learning environments. Research supports intentionally providing guidance and experiences that encourage the development of those executive functioning skills in children. A variety of ways that each of the skills can be practiced and encouraged within daily routines in classroom environments will be shared.
Teaching for Cognitive Engagement: It’s more than just keeping them awake!
August 7th, 2022
Have you ever wondered how to really be sure your students are doing as much of the cognitive work as possible – the writing, the thinking, the analyzing, the talking? (Lemov, 2015) This session will explore instructional strategies that are geared toward increasing the cognitive engagement of each student while embedding a variety of opportunities to respond (OTR) and checking for understanding (CFU) strategies throughout your lessons. Emphasis will be on practical application within your daily routines that maximizes learning for every student.
Link to shared Google folder – Cognitive Engagement - participant resources
WMCSPD – Summer Institute 2022
Math and Literacy Foundational Skills: Identifying the Predictive Indicators for School Success presented by Stephanie Lester
This hands-on workshop will provide practical research-based math and literacy strategies that will help students increase their reading and math skills. The morning session will focus on developing an understanding of number sense as well as the latest methods to develop skills in subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality. Number sense is linked to future math achievement in a manner similar to the way phonological awareness has been linked to reading achievement (Kosanovich, Weinstein, & Goldman 2009.)
In the afternoon, the focus will be on developing an understanding of the phonological awareness continuum and the importance of these skills – along with strategies to support differentiation to meet the needs of each student. Come learn some fun strategies and activities that will allow you to create engaging and positive experiences where both children and staff have SUCCESS!
Executive Functioning: Skills That Make a Big Difference for Children presented by Stephanie Lester
Why all the talk about executive functioning? If you’d like to become more familiar with helping to develop your preschoolers executive functioning skills then this is the training for you. Adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization are all executive functioning skills that can be encouraged in early childhood environments. Research supports intentionally providing guidance and experiences that encourage the development of those executive functioning skills in young children. A variety of ways that each of the skills can be practiced and encouraged within daily routines in early childhood environments will be shared.
Understanding the Power of Guidance: It is a Win/Win for Both Children and Adults! presented by Stephanie Lester
This workshop will forever change the way you look at opportunities to guide children in your classroom! Both you and your students will be winners when you implement the principles of guidance. Effectively guiding children is a BIG part of every educator’s day! The principles of guidance will be introduced along with practical classroom management strategies that create and sustain a positive classroom environment. The functions of behavior, strategies, and action steps to addressing inappropriate behaviors will be included in the training. Real life scenarios will be discussed, and practical applications shared. Come prepared to leave excited and ready to implement the principles of guidance!
2019/2020 Workshops
2020 MCEC/MCASE: Missoula, MT
Hilton Garden Inn, Missoula, MT
Friday, February 21, 2020 8:00 - 11:15 AM
Exceptionalities Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present, Shaping the Future
Math Throughout the Day: Creating a Passion for Math at school and at home!
NAEYC: Nashville, TN
Nashville, Tennessee Music City Center, Davidson Ballroom Salon C3.
November 21, 2019: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
2019 NAEYC Annual Conference:
Number sense is a critical kindergarten readiness skill: Learn the latest methods to build mathematical skills with young children in the classroom and at home.
STEAM: Anaheim, CA
Anaheim, CA
December 9-10, 2019: TBA
2019 California STEAM Symposium:
Science Inquiry: Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child!
STEM: Pasadena, CA
Pasadena Hilton, Pasadena, CA
February 28, 2020: TBA
Early Childhood STEM Symposium:
Science Inquiry: Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child while ‘Playing About With STEM’!
2017/2018 Workshops
NAEYC: Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia World Congress Center and Omni Hotel
November 17, 2017: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Science Inquiry: Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child!
Don’t miss this hands-on workshop which will demonstrate the importance of inquiry-based science curriculum. Experience first-hand how on-going science inquiry benefits children through the facilitation of Project-Based Learning activities.
Young Child Expo
Omni Los Angeles Hotel
Room: Watercourt A & B:
January 18, 2018: 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Science Inquiry: The Key to Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child!
Experience this hands-on workshop demonstrating how on-going science inquiry benefits ALL children through the facilitation of science activities. Implementing instructional strategies that develop science inquiry skills using the Project-Based Learning Approach increases student engagement, learning and achievement. Recognizing and identifying the connections between scientific inquiry, Project-Based Learning, STEM/STEAM activities, and the Common Core standards will maximize the learning opportunities for ALL children. Nurturing science inquiry skills by introducing science activities utilizing Project-Based Learning effectively guides ALL children toward becoming SUCCESSFUL scientists!
EC STEM Conference
Anaheim Marriott
February 3, 2018 1:15 – 2:45 PM
Science Inquiry: Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child!
Don’t miss this hands-on workshop which will demonstrate the importance of inquiry-based science curriculum. Experience first-hand how on-going science inquiry benefits children through the facilitation of PBL science activities.
https://www.regonline.com/registration/Checkin.aspx?EventId=2038671
Southern California Kindergarten Conference
February 10, 2018
Pasadena Convention Center: 2:45 – 4:00 PM
Science Inquiry: Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child!
Don’t miss this hands-on workshop which will demonstrate the importance of inquiry-based science curriculum. Experience first-hand how on-going science inquiry benefits children through the facilitation of Project-Based Learning activities.
http://www.socalkindergartenconference.com/default.asp?sec_id=180012646
Testimonials
