During Robin’s 30 years in adult education, she has instructed and administered a variety of literacy, upgrading and training programs at Bow Valley College, including Connecting Literacy to Community (2001 – 05), which established literacy specialist work in several communities throughout Alberta. Robin also coordinated pilots of Test of Workplace Essential S kills (TOWES) and the Skills Credentialing Tool at Bow Valley College. Projects and programs she managed have involved numerous external partners, including the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Alberta Learning, the Conference Board of Canada, the Calgary Learns, and the Alberta College of Art & Design. Robin has served as President of the Alberta Association for Adult Literacy (now Literary Alberta) and on the steering committees of Vibrant Communities, Calgary and Manitoba Essential Skills –Facilitator Guide. Robin currently works part-time as the manager for the Assessment Resource Project, a classroom tool to develop reading tests referenced to the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). Her interest in essential skills, literacy, curriculum and communities remains a career focus.

Resource Developer: Deanna Jager

Deanna Jager has been involved in the adult education field for 12 years. Starting out as a volunteer instructor in ESL classrooms she went on to study linguistics at the University of Calgary earning her BA. For the last four years she has worked as a coach and instructor, facilitating classes on personal management and career development skills in community organizations and at Bow Valley College. She is currently pursuing her Master’s of Education, specializing in Workplace and Adult Learning. She brings to the Assessment Resource project a strong interest in adult reading as it relates to essential skills development.

Dean, Academic Foundations & Project Consultant: Charles Pankratz

Charles Pankratz has been involved in the field of adult education for 30 years. During the first 20 years, he was involved in the English language learning field in Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Canada as an instructor, program coordinator and dean. During that time, he led a number of projects including the production of The Winning Label health and safety video and the On Target ESL assessment resource. Since 2001, he has served as the Dean of the Academic Foundations Department at Bow Valley College with responsibility for the College’s upgrading and literacy programs. During this time, the department has produced a number of resources, including a Literacy Specialist training program, Literacy and Disability Study, Connecting Literacy to Community resource series and the Mutual Accountability Tool: Assessing Funder and Service Provider Relationships in the Field of Adult Literacy. Charles has been a member of the Conference Board of Canada’s Skills Solution Forum, Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Coalition Economic Development Committee, Alberta Employment and Immigration Provincial Training Provider Advisory Committee and chaired the Provincial Adult Upgrading Committee for 6 years.

Segmentation Developer & Project Consultant: Stan Jones

Stan Jones is a literacy expert, researcher and consultant. He has been involved with the International Adult Literacy Surveys (IALS) since Statistic Canada first surveyed adult Canadians in 1994. Recently he has contributed to the publications “Learning Literacies in Canada” (2008) and Reading the Future (2008).

Project Evaluator: Robin Millar

Dr. Robin Millar is the Executive Director of the Centre for Education and Work, which is a not-for-profit corporation formed in collaboration with the University of Winnipeg to promote the development of adult learner friendly institutions.

Robin worked for the Province of Manitoba in adult literacy for ten years. She has presented at conferences and workshops in workplace education, adult literacy, adult education and learning disabilities, and more recently prior learning assessment.

Dr. Millar is an experienced adult educator and facilitator. She worked in the field of adult literacy and learning disabilities for ten years in England, and before that the United States. Robin has taught on the CACE (Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education) program at the University of Manitoba for the past ten years. She has presented at conferences and workshops in workplace education, adult literacy, adult education and learning disabilities, and more recently PLA. She has published articles and books on spelling, learning disabilities, and adult literacy.

From 1988-98, Robin was the Adult Learning Specialist and Manager of Adult Literacy and Continuing Education for the Province of Manitoba. In that capacity she developed and delivered a three-tiered training program for adult literacy workers. She also developed a Learner Certification system and curricula for adult literacy programs.

Robin received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.) in 1998. Her dissertation was a qualitative study conducted with adults returning to school entitled Ambivalent Learning.

Item Writer: David Lemiski

David Lemiski has both academic and practical experience in the fields of education, assessment, and competence-based training development, with over 20 years of experience in human performance technology. He has earned a B.A. (Economics) (University of Alberta), B.Ed. (University of Alberta), and a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology (University of Alberta). He possesses expertise in all facets of competency-based learning development, including analysis and needs assessment, instructional design, development and delivery, assessment strategy analysis and design, program evaluation, and project management.

David helps clients to achieve business and performance improvement through flexible and creative performance solutions (e-learning, classroom training, coaching and self-study programs, competency modules). As an instructional designer, David works with clients to develop competency-based tools that ensure the highest return on investment for their performance solutions. Clients include Shell Energy Canada, Cisco Systems, Alberta Treasury Branches, CP Rail, CN Rail, Westjet, IBM, Daleen Technologies, BC Hydro, Snohomish Public Utilities District, and Canadian Tourism Education Council.

Item Writer: Carolyn Turner

Carolyn Turner was born in Truro, Nova Scotia and obtained most of her education at Dalhousie and St. Mary’s University in Halifax. After teaching in Halifax for two years, she moved to Alberta where she has been since 1980. Her career in education continued to include teaching elementary, junior high, and senior high school, as well as serving as vice-principal for a short while. It was during this teaching period that she went on to do graduate work through Commonwealth Open University at Tortola, British West Indies.

She retired from teaching in 2008, and went to work part-time at Keyano College in Fort McMurray teaching ESL and doing curriculum development. Since that time, she has devoted herself to contract writing practically full-time. Presently, she lives in Edmonton, with her husband Flexon and daughter, Jessica. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to visit her son and family in Toronto, and attending concerts, the theatre, movies, etc. Carolyn and her husband share a passion for charity work which began with their local church while living in Fort McMurray. They haven’t found their space in that respect in Edmonton yet, so that is yet to come.

Item Writer: Eva Szasz-Redmond

Eva Szasz-Redmond has been involved in the field of adult education for the past 15 years. She tutored newcomers to Canada, coordinated literacy and pre-employability programs and assessed the language skills of many future learners. She completed a Master of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language specializing in assessment at the University of Calgary and has participated in many professional development opportunities focusing on literacy, ESL, assessment and evaluation.

Item Writer: Jennifer Connell

Jennifer Connell has been a classroom teacher for the past eleven years. She began her teaching career as a high school English teacher and has continued to Department Head, and most recently, coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Programme at her school. Jennifer has a strong interest in assessment and has had the opportunity to work with the GED Testing Service as a content writer and reviewer. Also, she has spent several years with PISA and PCAP as a marker and table leader. In addition, Jennifer’s involvement in various curriculum committees, and her work as a textbook reviewer and writer have contributed to her continued commitment in assessment and literacy. She is currently completing her thesis for her Master’s of Education.

Graphic Artist: Katie Songer

Photo credit: Chantale Potie

Katie Songer, a Calgary-based freelance graphic designer and illustrator, has been involved in the design industry for over seven years. After obtaining her degree in Visual Communications Design and her start at the well-known advertising agency, Strut Creative, she has used her experiences to provide design solutions to a diverse list of clients. Aside from her background in print, she is also an accomplished web designer.

Throughout her career in design, she has enjoyed working on several educational projects specifically targeted towards adult learning. Previously, she served as the designer for “ARTisTIC: A Study of Mental Health, Career Choice and Achievement in the Workplace.” She continues to gravitate towards non-profit and community-oriented projects, where her designs can make a difference.

Writer: Patricia Pryce

Patricia is an instructor with Bow Valley College. She has taught with the college for 5 years and has spent the last two years teaching at the Eden Valley Campus, southwest of Calgary. Patricia’s main area of educational interest is in adult literacy. She has helped develop tests and reading assessments for both early reading and high school English programs. She also has extensive writing experience in the areas of journalism and academic research papers. She has her BA in English and a BEd. She is currently enrolled in a Masters program in Adult Learning and Global Change with the University of British Columbia. Her other areas of interest include environmental science, religious studies, community development and fine art.

Writer: Elizabeth Hak

Elizabeth graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in 2008 with a Journalism diploma. She is currently working as a freelance writer in Calgary, Alberta. Combining a love of photography and a curiousity for everything, Elizabeth writes mainly for magazines. Profile, travel, equine, golf and local interest articles and photos have appeared in Airdrie Life, Chinook Golfer, Cochrane Connects and Supreme Living magazines.
This more relaxed writing style is a nice break from the scientific documents she produced while working at the R.C.M.P. Forensic Laboratory in Edmonton, Alberta. While with the R.C.M.P., Elizabeth conducted research related to alcohol and driving and was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journals – Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal and the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.
Elizabeth enjoys the variety that comes from writing. On any given day, she can compose a story about a young man who rode across Canada in support of childhood cancer, a European river cruise or a roller derby mom. The challenge of writing on many subjects for a diverse audience keeps her on her toes!

Item Writer/Item Analyst: Scott Henwood

Scott Henwood has been involved with social research for over six years, and began working in education three years ago. Born in Dieppe, New Brunswick, he completed a Bachelor of Arts at Fredericton’s St. Thomas University before moving to Alberta in 2007 to pursue a Master of Arts in Sociology. For the past several years, Scott has been an educational assistant for a variety of college and university courses in the field of sociology. Most recently, he has served as instructor for Introductory Sociology for Bow Valley College’s Department of Health and Community Care. Scott has a developing passion for social research, and has conducted studies involving adult literacy, the nonprofit sector, provincial policy, and media.

Item Writer – Penny Marcotte

Penny Marcotte is an instructor at Bow Valley College, where she has worked the past ten years. Possessing a B.Sc. in Earth Science and a B.Ed., she began her teaching career as an instructor at the Calgary Correctional Centre. In this role she was exposed to all areas of curriculum, from Grade 1 to Grade 12, and the unique learning needs of a marginalized population. She currently teaches Math, Science and Computers at the college’s Aboriginal Campus. Her main areas of interest include using technology to create meaningful learning experiences, and promoting an awareness of sustainable development issues in urban environments. At present, her class is experimenting with an indoor vegetable garden, with the hope that it will promote positive attitudes towards personal health and the environment.

Item Analyst – Al Gorewich

Originally from Toronto, Al studied psychology at the University of Western Ontario and York University, completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). This led to work as a research assistant with the Multi-Health Systems, a publisher of psychological test material, where he gained experience in the area of test construction and development. More recently, Al obtained a Master’s of Science degree at the University of Calgary in the area of School and Applied Child Psychology. His thesis work involved creating and validating an early math assessment measure of number understanding in kindergarten and grade one students. He is now completing an internship within the Golden Hills School Division as a psychologist.

Analyst – Fernando Cartwright

Fernando Cartwright is a social science researcher, software developer/architect, and psychometrician located in Ottawa. He has worked as an analyst or content developer on over 20 large scale national or international assessments, including PISA, IALS, and PIAAC. He is the architect and co-developer of the Composite Learning Index, produced by the Canadian Council on Learning, as well as the European Lifelong Learning Index, produced by the Bertelsmann Stiftung. He has produced a variety of software applications related to educational measurement. These tools include IATA, a standalone psychometric analysis suite; Echo, an online item creation, test creation and delivery and data analysis application; and variety of other tools and technologies for the creation of test items and the analysis of psychometric data. His current focus is to increase the usefulness of scientific measurement methods by developing expert software systems accessible to lay users of assessment information. Fernando is also the CEO of Polymetrika Inc.

Item Analyst – Belle Auld

Belle Auld has worked in adult literacy for 16 years. She currently coordinates the Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) inclusive adult literacy program and the Speech Assisted Reading and Writing (SARAW) program at Bow Valley College, Calgary.

User Guide Author: Audrey Gardner

Audrey is the Coordinator of the Centre for Foundational Learning at Bow Valley College, Calgary, Alberta; a centre for practitioners to engage in applied research, development projects, and scholarly inquiry in adult literacy and basic education, upgrading, and essential skills. Audrey has worked in adult literacy since 2001 and has been involved in small and large research and development projects in adult literacy. She is also a student in the Adult Education and Community Development program at OISE, University of Toronto.

User Guide Editor: Marnie Schaetti

Marnie Schaetti has more than 25 years’ experience in Alberta’s nonprofit sector, in both urban and rural organizations, at local, regional and provincial levels. She has held a variety of senior staff, consultant and volunteer positions, including executive director and elected board president. Her focus has been on strategic vision and communication.

As a communication specialist working with hard-copy and web-based applications, she has provided strategic design and planning, and structural editing and writing services to a variety of public sector, small business and nonprofit clients. As executive director, her organizational experience included leading the successful merger of two provincial literacy organizations with over 400 members. As an organizational consultant, among other projects, she facilitated the collaborative development of provincially approved standards of good practice and evaluation for community-based adult literacy programs. With the recent completion of a masters’ degree in participatory communication, she enjoys combining her organization development and communication skills and experience.

Proofreader: Linda Rasmussen

Linda Rasmussen has worked in the Communications industry for over 20 years. Through her company, Proof Positive Communications, she provides professional editing and proofreading services to major corporations, government, small businesses and non-profit groups. During her early years in the Calgary oil patch, she wrote a wide array of communications projects including management presentations, government submissions, advertising brochures, newspaper stories, training manuals, etc. In the education field, she directed an annual Educational Awards Program for Aboriginal Students, involving 7 Alberta colleges and 3 universities, and supervised summer students conducting “Stay in School” workshops in high schools across the province.

Proofreader: Moni Brar

Moni Brar has worked in the education field for the past 13 years. She has served as a university instructor, educational advisor and training manager in Canada, Thailand, South Korea, Maldives, and Malawi. Her work has included teaching university writing courses, writing content for textbooks, and editing curriculum and learning materials. Moni’s passion is international education and currently, she is coordinating an international development seminar which brings together university students in an intercultural and collaborative field project in Vietnam.

Staff

Click on the links to see a photo and short bio of each person involved with Read Forward.

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