Beyond training reliable CLASS observers, our Teachstone trainers play a vital role in delivering on the promise of CLASS. Across the country and around the world, they help organizations understand that if you improve how teachers connect with students, children learn and achieve more—now and for the rest of their lives.
These trainers will be contributing regularly to the newly updated Affiliate Trainer Blog to share updates, tips, and resources to support our affiliate trainers. You’ll find everything from training tips to information about new CLASS-based research and professional development programs.
This week, we’d like to introduce you to Teachstone trainers Curry Ander, Lisa Criss, Mary-Margaret Gardiner, and Sarah Hadden. Come back next week to meet the rest of our Teachstone trainers!
Curry Ander, Staff Trainer
Curry was born and raised primarily in Maine and still lives on the Maine coast in a cabin in the woods. Her career in early childhood began in her early 20’s as a teacher in a subsidized child-care program. Since that time, she has had a wide variety of experiences, including working with Head Start, Navy Child and Family programs in England and Sicily, the University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion, and as an independent trainer and consultant with national accreditation and mentor projects.
Curry considers her work with Teachstone as the pinnacle of her career. In her 5+ years with Teachstone she has delivered the Pre-K CLASS Observation and the Pre-K Train the Trainer Program. In addition, she was worked with the MMCI (Making the Most of Classroom Interactions) and the MTP (My Teaching Partner) professional development programs.
Curry spends a lot of her time on the road (and in the skies). When she’s at home, she enjoys cooking and pairing wine with her wine group.
Curry believes that sharing the CLASS is the best way to achieve her personal mission of enhancing learning for children through the support of teachers.
Lisa Criss, Training Manager
Lisa has been in early childhood for over 20 years. She has worked with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Prior to joining Teachstone, Lisa worked as a teacher, center director, education specialist, mentor coach, and in the Head Start Training and Technical Assistance System.
In addition to overseeing the training team, Lisa conducts Infant, Toddler, & Pre-K Intro & Observation trainings along with Toddler & Pre-K Train-the-Trainer Programs.
Lisa lives in Michigan. When she is not out traveling around the country, she enjoys time at home with her chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
Mary-Margaret Gardiner, Content Innovation Specialist
Mary-Margaret Gardiner works for Content Innovation and also does some CLASS training. Her work with the Content Team includes, master coding, video acquisition and establishing Partnerships. Mary Margaret has been involved in the early childhood community for over 35 years, driven by her passion to support the teachers who work with our most valuable asset, our children. She joined Teachstone in 2010 and has been a CLASS convert since the early days before Teachstone was even started!
Mary-Margaret conducts Infant, Toddler, Pre-K, Instructional Support Strategies, and Making the Most of Classroom Interactions (MMCI) trainings, as well as the Train the Trainer Programs at the Toddler and Pre-K levels.
Mary-Margaret lives in Crozet, Virginia and loves to play in her rock band and spend time with her family and horse!
Sarah Hadden, Senior Advisor, Training and Professional Development
Sarah is an educator with 30 years of experience in the field. She has been a classroom teacher, a researcher, and a teacher educator. Prior to joining Teachstone, Sarah worked on the development and implementation of the first CLASS-based professional development programs (MyTeaching Partner and the National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education) at the Center for Advanced Studies on Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia.
Sarah conducts Pre-K & K-3 Intro and Observation trainings, Pre-K & K-3 Train the Trainer Programs, and Feedback Strategies and Instructional Support Strategy trainings.
Sarah lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has conducted CLASS trainings in 28 states (including Alaska and Hawaii) and 4 continents! When she isn’t working, she often has her nose in a book.
Feel free to contact us at affiliatesupport@teachstone.com for more information, or for any technical or affiliate trainer panel support.