Maria Dyslin, Glendale Elementary
DSA Award Recipient — Elementary School Teachers

When it comes to educational reforms, seasoned educators are cautious. But Glendale teachers found this deal too good to pass up. Instructional Resource Teacher Maria Dyslin delivers a top-notch brand of great teaching. She is the Cadillac of literacy coaches.

Start with Maria's high standards for instruction and student achievement. Note how support, encouragement and a positive approach are skillfully employed. Look closely; you'll see how Maria has captured the trust, admiration and appreciation of an energized staff.

This outstanding coaching model comes equipped with very powerful tools for improvement. This assessment wall, for example, effectively charts student progress. Enter a classroom and you'll see that embedded professional development, curriculum mapping and trained volunteers yield big results for the school and its students.

Fellow teachers and university professors flock to observe her smooth handling of a struggling reader as he navigates a good book. But wait, there's more; when a Glendale teacher is stuck for time, Maria is there to help lighten the load.

The role of the literacy coach is to encourage teachers to look critically at their practice and improve. This is one tough job. But teachers at Glendale are sold on their coach and friend, Maria Dyslin.

Back to the DSA Recipient list