#PTchat Moderators

#PTchat moderators are represented globally from student to school board member. Below are those who facilitate the weekly Parent-Teacher discussion. Follow and connect with them often.

Zak Malamed - @ZakMal

Student‬

Zak MalamedZak is an 18-year-old advocate for the student voice in education policy. He is the organizer of the #StuVoice Twitter chats and StuVoice.org. These efforts focus on uniting and centralizing the student voice. Malamed served as high school Class President for three years and Student Government President for one year. In 2012, he received both the NASSP/Herff Jones Principal's Leadership Award and awards from the Long Island Press for his work as a high school journalist. He will be a freshman Government and Politics major at the University of Maryland this fall. Follow him on Twitter @ZakMal. Favorite hashtags: #stuvoice

New School Board Moderator!
Andrea Lawful-Trainer - @lawfultrainer

School Board Member

Andrea Lawful-TrainerAndrea Lawful-Trainer has made broad impact on closing academic achievement gaps and engaging minds to embrace success.  Her most notable results include providing leadership empowerment for students, leadership development for parents and professional development for teacher/guidance advisors for a suburban Philadelphia school district that reduced its reading achievement gap from 33 to eight percentage points in 6 months.  Her work places her in partnership with school districts to effectively meet the specific needs of their constituents. Andrea is a member of the Abington School Board where she has served for six years and in 2012 was the Minority Delegate in Pennsylvania for the National School Board Association.

 

Gwen Pescatore - @GPescatore25

Parent

Gwen PescatoreGwen is a stay-at-home mom of 3 children (now spanning elementary through middle school). For the last year she has served as the president of the ES home & school association (PTO), as one of the co-moderators of #PTchat, and on the planning committee for #ParentCamp. She works daily to ensure all families feel they are welcome and valued partners in their child’s education, regardless of their race, religion or socio-economic status. Alongside Lisa Davis, she started the blog ParentSchoolPartners.wordpress.com. Favorite hashtags: #PTchat, #parenting #parents #TMSHawkChat #pypchat

New Parent Moderator!
Lisa Davis - @LisaoDavis

Parent

Lisa Davis and her sonLisa Davis is the proud mother of 3 wonderful children. She is a graduate of the George Washington University. Before children, she worked as a writer for several companies as a proposal writer and in business development. Lisa recently completed her term as PTA President. She currently serves as Past President, and member of the district PTA Council. Lisa is a co-founder of ParentSchoolPartners and frequently blogs about issues concerning families and schools. She has been an active participant of PTChat for the past year after being introduced to Twitter. It is a highlight of her week to communicate with teachers, parents, students, and administrators from all over the world on educational issues.

New Parent  Moderator!
J. Michael Hall - @strongfathers

Parent

J. Michael HallJ. Michael Hall is the father of two boys (high school  and college) and the husband to a beautiful middle school reading teacher. Mr. Hall has been a special education teacher, a teacher of the gifted and talented, and an intermediate and middle school principal. As an educator, speaker and founder of Strong Fathers-Strong Families, he has presented to more than 120,000 fathers and parents at over 250 local schools, Head Starts, and regional and national conferences. For his pioneering work over the past ten years in education he was recently honored as a 2012 White House Champion of Change for his work in the fatherhood field around the nation.

New National PTA Moderator!
Sherri Wilson - @ptaswilson

Senior Manager, Family Engagement - National PTA

Sherri WilsonSherri Wilson is the Senior Manager of Family Engagement for National PTA. She leads the National PTA Urban Family Engagement Network and provides training, information and support related to family engagement and the implementation of the National PTA Standards for Family School Partnerships. Ms. Wilson was the Co-founder of the Alabama Parent Education Center and served as Alabama PIRC Director for over fourteen years. Ms. Wilson holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing, a Family Development Credential from the University of Alabama and is a Certified Grant Administrator and Certified Grant Evaluator. Ms. Wilson has presented information to families and school personnel in a variety of formats, including presentations at the National Head Start Conference in 2012, and the National Title I Conference in 2011 and 2012, and the 2010, 2011, and 2012 National PTA Conferences. Favorite hashtags: #PTA #ptchat #edchat #parents Link: www.pta.org

Dana Sirotiak - @Sirotiak02

Teacher

Dana SirotiakDana is a History Teacher at Hackensack High School in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Dana has a MA in Educational Technology and a BA in History.  She is currently enrolled in the Supervision Program at New Jersey City University with the intentions of continuing on to complete the Education Leadership Program in Administration.  In addition to her instructional duties, Dana serves on her school's Parent Council, Professional Development Committee, School Leadership Committee, and History Curriculum Committee.  Dana believes family involvement is a key component in maximizing student development and achievement.  View Dana's ePortfolio at danasirotiak.wordpress.com Favorite hashtags: #ptchat, #njed, #satchat, #sschat, #edtech, #edchat

New International Moderator!
Jeannette James - @7MrsJames

Teacher

Jeannette JamesJeannette is currently a part time educator at Oakhill College, an independent secondary Catholic school in Castle Hill, NSW, Australia. The College enrols approximately 1650 students from Year 7-12. Jeannette facilitates studies in Food Technology, ICT, Religious Education and Drama. She also enjoys working part time as a Partnership Broker with Australian Schools Industry Partnerships (working towards increasing student engagement, attainment, supporting transitions, family engagement). Jeannette is passionate about experiential learning, sharing practice, continuous learning, mindmatters and Teachmeets. Jeannette is also leading the educators instagram initiative after the success of @foodatoakhill instagram account; connecting people, sharing learning. Jeannette was introduced to #ptchat this year as she manages the @everyparent twitter handle for AusSIP (Australian Schools Industry Partnerships) She has enjoyed learning with and from educators and parents across the global, in order to enhance family and school partnerships.

New Teacher Moderator!
Elissa Malespina - @SOMSlibrary

Teacher-Librarian

Elissa MalespinaSouth Orange Middle School Librarian by day...Technology Presenter at such conferences as ISTE, Edmodocon 2013, and Edscape, and also an Educational Consultant, and Mom to a 10 year old son by night. Oh and in my spare time I am in Grad School at Seton Hall University pursuing my Supervisory Certification. For more information http://www.elissamalespina.com Favorite hashtags: #njed #tlchat #satchat #poetrysummit #hwdebate

New Principal Moderator!
Tony Sinanis - @Cantiague_Lead

Principal

Tony SinanisMr. Tony Sinanis is currently lead learner at Cantiague Elementary School in Jericho, New York, which was recognized as a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education. Prior to working at Cantiague, Tony served as an administrator in Valley Stream for three years and an elementary classroom teacher for eight years in NYC and Hewlett. Tony is currently pursuing his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania and is embarking on his dissertation where he will be exploring the connection between active participation on Twitter and the professional development of principals. Tony blogs regularly at www.leadingmotivatedlearners.blogspot.com and is the co-moderator of #NYedchat. Tony was also nominated for the Terrell Bell Award for Leadership in 2012 and is currently one of the finalists for the Bammy Award for Elementary School Principal of the Year. Tony is married to Kelly, his high school sweetheart, and he has a son named Paul, who is about to enter 4th Grade. Favorite hashtags: #nyedchat #ptchat #satchat

Dr. Joe Mazza - @Joe_Mazza

Lead Learner

Dr. Joe MazzaJoe serves as K-12 Director of Connected Teaching, Learning & Leadership (@NPedtech) in @NPSD, the 6th largest school district in Pennsylvania. He is the former lead learner at Knapp Elementary School. He recently completed a dissertation studying school principals’ use of social media to connect home and school at the University of Pennsylvania and now serves as @PennGSE's Innovation Coach (@MCDPEL). Joe strongly believes that investing daily in face to face communications are the key or "home button" for educators and leaders looking to maximize their family engagement efforts. Follow Joe on Twitter at @Joe_Mazza. Favorite hashtags: #ptchat, #cpchat, #elemchat, #edcamp #satchat #parentcamp #pennedchat #nped

New Superintendent Moderator!
Dr. Joe Clark - @DrJoeClark

Superintendent

Dr. Joe ClarkJoe Clark is the superintendent of the Nordonia Hills City Schools in northeast Ohio, mid-way between Cleveland and Akron. In his 21 years in education, Joe has been an English teacher, assistant principal, principal, personnel director, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Joe’s experiences as a disc jockey and camp director also played a formidable part in his development as an educator. Joe earned his B.A., M.Ed., and Ph.D. from Kent State University. Joe is married to Amie and has two sons. Find Joe at http://www.nordoniaschools.org/Superintendent.aspx. Read his blog at: http://drjoeclarkblog.wordpress.com/. Favorite hashtags: #ptchat #tlap #leadfromwithin #edchat