Teaching and Learning TOSAs

  • Picture of Alison Heath Alison Heath – K-12 TAG/Health/Social Studies TOSA 
    After graduating from Lewis & Clark college with a major in Sociology/Anthropology and a Masters in the Art of Teaching, Alison Heath started her career in public education in 2001. Her passion for language and culture inspired her to help establish the first elementary Dual Immersion program in the Hillsboro School District, where she earned her ESOL endorsement and taught 2nd grade for seven years. 

    In 2008 Alison moved to the Tigard-Tualatin School District, sharing her love of learning with second and third graders for the next 13 years at Tualatin Elementary School. During this time, Alison explored her leadership skills as she worked on district committees in the areas of Math, Writing, Digital Learning, Instructional Leadership, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Erin’s Law (Health). Additionally, Alison became a New Teacher Mentor for TTSD staff as well as being a Cooperating Teacher for student teachers earning their Master’s Degree.

    In 2021 Alison moved into an Instructional Coaching Position at Durham Elementary where she supported K-5 teachers in their practice as well as co-facilitated the roll-out of K-5 Comprehensive Human Sexuality Instruction for TTSD. This year Alison joins the Teaching and Learning Instructional Support TOSA Team. In her role as K-12 TAG, Health, and Social Sciences support TOSA, Alison is dedicated to serving the district’s students and staff in delivering rigorous and culturally responsive instruction in a warm and welcoming environment. Please contact Alison Heath at aheath@ttsd.k12.or.us 

    Picture of Amy Curtis Amy Curtis - 6-12 Literacy/MTSS TOSA
    "As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has- or ever will have- something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression."-Mr. Rogers

    After graduating from the University of Portland with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education Amy taught 6th grade in the Reynolds Schools District in Oregon for 9 years. Coming from out of state she was surprised and delighted by the middle school ritual that is Outdoor School.  Recognizing her need to adjust her teaching and knowledge to better serve her students she returned to school earning her endorsements in both ESOL and Reading from Portland State University and Lewis and Clark College. In 2008 she accepted a new challenge as an ESL high school teacher at Reynolds High School and then a junior and senior ELA teacher. 

    In 2011, after teaching for 12 years in middle and high school, Amy enrolled in a certificate program for Documentary Studies at Lewis and Clark College. This program gave voice to something that had always driven her, human stories. Amy is most at home listening to and encouraging the uniqueness of each person’s story. She believes that this is the heart of multi-tiered systems of support, for without knowing the humans involved how can we know what support is needed? 

    In 2013, Amy took on a role as a reading specialist and instructional coordinator implementing MTSS systems at Twality Middle School. During her tenure, she expanded her work in anti-bias training and fostering student achievement. In 2021 Amy accepted a teacher on special assignment role in Tigard Tualatin’s Teaching and Learning department as a secondary literacy and MTSS specialist. Please contact Amy Curtis at acurtis@ttsd.k12.or.us

    Picture of Elise Cohen Elise Cohen – Math/Science TOSA
    Elise has a passion for seeing people perform at their best while being inspired to learn and grow from those around her. Her path to education started with her studies in biology and environmental science at the University of Pennsylvania and secondary education at the University of Oregon. She has worked in public schools for over 20 years as a middle school math and science teacher, a new teacher mentor, and professional development specialist. Please contact Elise Cohen at ecohen@ttsd.k12.or.us

    Picture of Janell Cooke Janell Cooke – K-5 Literacy/MTSS TOSA
    Janell received her bachelor's degree in Health from Linfield College and a Masters of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from George Fox University. She began her teaching career in New York City as a second grade teacher in a dual immersion school. She joined the TTSD community in 2007. At that time, she began as a classroom teacher at Tualatin Elementary where she taught second, third and fourth grade. Shortly after beginning her teaching career, she recognized her passion for literacy and the significant impact that it has on student success. To grow her own knowledge in this area, she received a Reading Endorsement from George Fox University and a Teacher Leader Certificate, with a focus on Equity and Justice, from Lewis and Clark College. Janell joined the Teaching and Learning Department in 2018 where she first served as a district reading support coach. In 2021, she transitioned into her current role where she continues to work alongside classroom teachers and building leadership teams. She has experience delivering literacy-focused professional development and enjoys providing new learning opportunities for adults. She leads the team of building literacy specialists, facilitates implementation of our multi-tiered systems of literacy support and coordinates our summer kindergarten jump start programming. She is passionate about explicit and systematic instruction, aligning systems of support across all schools and providing teachers with the tools required to best meet the literacy needs of our elementary learners. Please contact Janell Cooke at jcooke@ttsd.k12.or.us

    Picture of Jen Devlin Jen Devlin - ELD TOSA
    “No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship.” ~ Dr. James Comer
    Jen Devlin’s core beliefs are that every student can succeed and this happens by knowing your students and how to best instruct each and every child while working alongside their families.

    Jen Devlin’s undergraduate degree is in Human Development & Family Sciences with options in Early Childhood Education and Child, Youth and Family Services, from Oregon State University. She went on to earn a Masters of Arts in Education (MAT) from Willamette University in tandem with an endorsement for teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). She is the first in her family to attend college and the first to earn a Bachelor's degree and a Master’s degree. 

    Jen taught in public schools in both Colorado and Oregon focusing on schools with the greatest needs; a desire to work in schools with families with similar life experiences is important to Jen Devlin. She spent 17 years in elementary schools as a classroom teacher (Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th grades), reading interventionist, and ESL teacher (co-teaching K-5 and in SPED SCC classrooms), before moving to TTSD 2 years ago. 

    Jen now serves as the K-12 ELD/Title III Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) for TTSD. She feels that her position continues her dedication to equitably serve, educate and promote success for all students. Please contact Jen Devlin at jdevlin1@ttsd.k12.or.us

    ELD/Title III TOSA areas of focus: ELD student identification and class placement, ODE & Federal policies for ELD & Title III, Co-Teaching, Partnering with K-12 ELD Specialists, Dual-Identified ELD/SPED students, TTSD Translation & Interpretation services, Migrant Education, ELD Curriculum and Instruction, ELD Student and families.

    ELD = English Language Development - Multilingual students that qualify to receive additional instruction to learn the English language

    Picture of Kasey Fernandez Kasey Fernandez – District Library/Media Specialist  
    Kasey Fernandez (she/they) has a passion for lateral reading, inclusion, research, student-selected reading, machine learning, data analysis, gamification, intellectual freedom, social justice, design and creativity. Kasey leads TTSD’s Library Services team and trains and partners with building library staff to maintain and develop TTSD’s library collections and services. Kasey curates the district’s Sora collection and accepts requests for ebooks and audiobooks. She has also begun to advise and support the Art Literacy program in partnership with the District Art Literacy Coordinator and the Director of Teaching and Learning. 

    Kasey attended college at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa (MEd in Ed Tech) and Portland State University (School Library Media). Kasey has roots in Kaua’i, HI, where she met her partner and their three children were born. She likes to play konane and make lei, as she learned growing up, and appreciates opportunities to learn and share multicultural activities and knowledge. She loves to read SciFi, Suspense, and a wide variety of informative Non-Fiction texts. Please contact Kasey Fernandez at kfernandez@ttsd.k12.or.us

    Picture of Pam Harrel Pam Harrel – Two-Way Immersion TOSA  
    Pam currently serves TTSD by supporting the Two-Way Immersion Program.  She draws on her experience as a Middle School and High School World Language teacher, as an English Language Development Specialist and as a Sheltered Instruction trainer to support our multilingual students and teachers.  Pam assists in the long-term planning for TWI, in instructional coaching, course design, curriculum selection, assessment, student enrollment in TWI and inter-school communication. In addition, Pam coordinates testing opportunities for students applying for the Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy. Please contact Pam Harrel at pharrel@ttsd.k12.or.us