Thriving Leaders Collaborative

Janice “Jan” R. Corona

I believe public education is what makes America great. Period. Public education must be the great equalizer for our children – regardless of zip code, family income, racial or gender identity, home language, behavior and/or learning differences. It’s all about providing effective classroom instruction. Teachers and administrators must take hard looks at what is happening (or not) in classroom instruction and reflect on what must be done to improve it…for every single student in the classroom. Our schools do not become more effective with just a wish and a hope. It takes critical reflection, making tough choices, and being brave enough to change what’s always been done. After all, students deserve it!

Professional Experience

With over three decades of experience as an educator, Jan Corona has served in a variety of teaching and learning environments - from rural Arkansas, to the Department of Defense in Pusan, South Korea, Ft. Deven’s Military Base in Ayer, Massachusetts, and the 14th largest school district in the nation - Dallas ISD. Jan has served at the campus level as a teacher, reading specialist and academic administrator. As the former Dallas ISD District Coordinator of Compliance for ELL services, Jan was responsible for supporting over 50,000 ELL students of varying languages and cultures. Upon retirement, Jan began a second career as an independent educational consultant. She has provided professional development to administrators and teachers on a variety of topics including Effective Instructional Strategies for ELLs, Building Vocabulary in Early Learning Classrooms, and Academic Conversations and Interactions in Grades K-12. Jan has written ELL lessons and activities for a textbook company in several subject areas including K-6 math, algebra, government, history and economics.

Knowledge

As the Teaching and Learning Instructional Supports Specialist, Jan oversees our work developing teaching and learning capacity within teachers, instructional coaches and administrators as they endeavor to improving academic achievement for students.

Education

Jan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Hendrix College, a small liberal arts college in Arkansas. She achieved a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas.

certifications

Elementary Education (grades 1-8)

ESL (grades 1-8)

Principal (EC-12)

Recognitions

Teacher of the Year, Roger Q. Mills Elementary

Specialized Trainer, Reading Academy

Specialized Trainer, Reading Recovery

On A PERSONAL NOTE...

Always on the go, Jan volunteers weekly at Crossroads Community Services, an organization that provides nourishing food and clothing to the working poor. As an Intake Volunteer, which gives her opportunities to talk with and get to know clients, she has made many friends and loves to see familiar faces each month so she can catch up on what’s happening in their lives. Jan is also an active member of First United Methodist Church and participates in many activities to improve the health of their downtown community. An avid hiker, Jan can often be found planning her next vacation to an exotic destination. She loves spending time with her husband over 35 years, Vince and their two incredible sons Van and Garrett.