Instructional Services Team
Michelle Ewald • Early Literacy Coach at Fairview, Mio AuSable, West Branch/Rose City, (Also, ALL COOR School Districts)
• Educational Background:
- U of M • Bachelor of General Studies
- Eastern Michigan University • Graduate teaching certification program
- Central Michigan University • M.A. (Elementary Education with a Major in Reading).
- Oakland University • PhD program in Reading Education ("ABD" - completed all coursework, but discontinued completion of the degree during dissertation work).
- K-12 Teaching Background (Mio 27 years,
Roscommon 1 year)
- MS/Upper Elementary Classroom Teacher (4th/6th) 11 years
- Literacy Coach 5 years
Instructional Coach/Reading & Math Interventionist (K-5th) - 11 years
• How long have you been with COOR ISD? This is my 2nd year. What school district(s) do your support or service? Fairview, Mio AuSable, West Branch/Rose City, ALL COOR School Districts
• What services do you provide to help support children, parents and or families? I primarily work with teachers and instructional coaches on refining reading and writing instruction, with the end goal being to improve literacy outcomes for students. West Branch/Rose City, Mio, and Fairview are the districts that are my focus, but I have done work in each of the C.O.O.R. districts since I was hired for this position.
• In terms of successes, which accomplishments are you most proud of? Since I began in this position in August 2021, I have strived to develop positive professional relationships with school personnel across the ISD, which have in turn led to more focused work with local districts. I hope to keep increasing my reach through PD presented to larger faculty groups, with the goal of those sessions leading to grade level work and work with individual teachers.
• Volunteer organizations involved with: Roscommon County Literacy Council (current president)
• Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today? My college professors and previous colleagues from CMU have been most influential to my professional path. Through them, I have had several opportunities in the past to teach both undergraduate and graduate reading methods courses at the college level. These experiences made me realize how much I enjoy working with both pre-service and current teachers to improve student outcomes.
• Hobbies/Sports Activities: I love to read (of course!), and a great deal of my free time is spent in sports- related activities. Whether it's watching my son play basketball, watching/attending a wide variety of sporting events with my husband, or actually getting out to do something active myself, it is fair to say that athletics is a big part of my life.
Stacy Shafto • Whole Child Specialist at Crawford AuSable
• Education: BA Child and Adolescent Psychology Liberty University. I would like to begin my Masters of Social Work within the year.
• Working at COOR ISD: Since Jan 30th, 2023
• Services you provide to help support children, parents and or families? Individual crisis intervention, building relationships & support structures through close interactions (weekly meetings as often as necessary) & providing information on local resources. Group work tailored to child's individual needs and circumstances.
• Accomplishments you are most proud of: I am most proud of the connections I have made with students and the relationships I continue to maintain so many years later. Being awarded with the Otsego County Crime Victim Advocate of the Year by the Otsego County Prosecutors office in 2007.
• Volunteer organizations involved with: Otsego County Community Meal, Downtown Merchants Association, Otsego County United Way
• Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today? My Grandpa was the most kind, gentle adult in my life. Coming from an impoverished, abusive home, he was the one exception in my life. He taught me what it felt like to be loved and treated with gentle kindness and care. He inspires every good thing I do.
• Hobbies/Sports Activities: I love nature and animals and enjoy feeding birds, raccoons and even bears. Also enjoy volleyball and tennis.
Heather Sharpe • Whole Child Specialist at Fairview Schools & Mio AuSable Schools
• Educational Background: Bachelors of Social Work from SVSU
• How long have you been with COOR ISD? Since Jan. 2023
• What services do you provide to help support children, parents and or families? Individual session, group sessions, crisis support, love, care.
• In terms of successes, which accomplishments are you most proud of? My proudest accomplishment would be obtaining my BSW and securing a professional position following this. I love what I do and am proud of how far I have come.
• Are you involved in any volunteer organizations? Carter Kits - I am a trainer. This kit was designed to help first responders in crisis situations with individuals that fall on the spectrum, however, can be utilized in any crisis situation with anyone.
• Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today? A grief counselor I worked with to help grieve the loss of my Mom. She helped me through that and inspired me to do that same. To help one person was my goal in social work.
• Do you have any hobbies or sports activities you enjoy outside of work? Photography, bird watching, kayaking, camping, being with friends, CONCERTS
C.O.O.R. ISD Department of Instructional Services kicked off our ISD wide 31n initiative. Ready to support Mental Health for all Students.
The overall intent of 31n is to increase the provision of mental health and support services in schools for general education students throughout Michigan. Since fiscal year (FY) 2018-19, the Michigan Legislature has allocated funds to intermediate districts and the network of child and adolescent health centers to add licensed behavioral health providers in schools.
Thank you to the Karyn Institute at Texas Christian University for taking the lead with this work and partnering with COOR on this journey.
GES Summer • The Great Outdoors!
One way our Early Literacy Coaches, Michelle Ewald and Grace Brown, support our teachers and instructional coaches is to connect local school districts with community resources. Staff members from Grayling Elementary partnered with Angela Cook, the 4-H Program Coordinator in Crawford County, to bring non-traditional learning activities to their summer learning sessions. As part of a thematic unit on the Great Outdoors, students enjoyed making paper canoes, decorating and putting numbers on them, like the real boats in the Canoe Marathon. The students then raced them in Ausable River. Thank you to Grace, Michelle, Angela, and the staff members at Grayling Elementary for this wonderful opportunity!
