Curriculum Advisors are located in the following buildings:
Mark Twain
Janell Becerra
Colin Pettegrew
Tiffani Teschner
Heather Wiedmer
Benton
Angie Chavez
Shantell Cross
Victoria Mueller
Bob Nash (Virtual Academy)
Robidoux
Cambrie Hoglund
Kaleb Johnson
Jason Lenz
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @SJSDCurriculum
Curriculum advisor objectives and responsibilities are listed below:
Curriculum & Assessment:
- Analyzes student performance data to identify learning needs and monitor curriculum implementation.
- Facilitates the development, design, and implementation of curriculum, instructional best practices, and formative assessments, ensuring alignment to Missouri Learning Standards and/or national content standards.
- Facilitates the research and review of instructional and curricular resources.
- Includes stakeholders in the curriculum development process, including staff, students, business partners, and parents.
- Outlines and communicates state and local requirements for instructional timelines and required instructional minutes.
- Facilitates the application process for new courses or programs.
- Practices fiscal stewardship in the preparation of content area budget proposals and resource adoption proposals.
- Advise/coordinate/monitor and report standardized state assessments, TSA’s, IRC’s, or other specialized assessments.
Professional Development:
- Designs and directs staff development related to curricular learning standards and priorities, content-area instructional best practices, and curricular resources.
- Plans and provides targeted professional development for curriculum implementation.
- Participates in on-going professional learning related to Curriculum Advisor roles and responsibilities.
Collaboration & Communication:
- Builds and maintains effective working relationships with stakeholders, including instructional staff, building leaders, and district leaders.
- Meets monthly as a team with all other Curriculum Advisors and district Academic Services leaders.
- Assists district and building administrators in the development of improvement goals based on student learning and curriculum implementation data.
- Coordinates student activities related to performances, contests, and competitions.
- Presents information and recommendations to Academic Services and the SJSD Board of Education related to curriculum, instructional priorities, instructional resources, and other related topics.
- Completes and analyzes annual survey of content-area staff members to inform staff development planning and curriculum implementation
- Includes specialized populations in curriculum writing process (i.e., ESOL, special education).
Contact Us
Robert Nash
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Mr. Nash received his Ed.S. in Education from William Woods University, his M.A. in Teaching from Webster University, and his B.S. in History from Missouri Western State University.
Mr. Nash served as the Secondary Social Studies Curriculum Advisor from 2004-2018 and the Social Studies Department Chair at Benton High School from 2004-2018. Mr. Nash has taught a variety of courses at the high school level including World Geography, World History, AP European History, and American Government. Mr. Nash served as a member of the Data Team Leadership Team and a Professional Learning Communities building coach.
Mr. Nash has extensive experience with curriculum writing, assessment development, and professional development. He led the implementation of problem-based learning within the secondary social studies department.
Janell Becerra
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Mrs. Becerra received her Ed.S. in Education and M.S. in Elementary Administration from Northwest Missouri State University and his B.S. in Vocal Music Education from Missouri Western State University.
Mrs. Becerra taught elementary music for 17 years, 14 of those years in the St. Joseph School District, at Field Elementary, Pershing, Mark Twain and Skaith. Mrs. Becerra served as an adjunct professor at Missouri Western State University for pre-service elementary music teachers and elementary classroom teachers.
During her time with the SJSD, Mrs. Becerra was a 2017 SJSD teacher of the year finalist, Shining Star Award winner, served on Music curriculum writing, and has served as a BLT member in her building.
Mrs. Becerra is active in the St Joseph Arts community. She serves on the Allied Arts Council Education Committee, Arts Fund committee, and the St. Joseph Symphony Education committee. She is also a frequent music director for the Robidoux Resident Theatre, having musically directed or pit directed over ten shows.
Cambrie Hoglund
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Mrs. Höglund received her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction her double B.S. in Elementary Education and Middle School Education from the University of Central Missouri. She is currently working on her Ed.S. in Education Leadership K-12 with Superintendent Certification from Northwest Missouri State University.
Mrs. Höglund has taught in the St. Joseph School District for eight years. She has taught 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade at Mark Twain Elementary, 2nd grade at Bessie Ellison Elementary, and 2nd and 5th grade at Oak Grove Elementary.
Mrs. Höglund has extensive experience with curriculum writing, project-based learning, and professional development.
Tiffani Teschner
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Mrs. Tiffani Teschner has 16 years of teaching experience from the Savannah School District. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northwest Missouri State University as well as her Masters of Education from Northwest Missouri State University.
Tiffani taught 5th and 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies for 16 year at John Glenn, Minnie Cline, and the final 11 years at Savannah Middle School. She served as Social Studies Vertical Co-Leader for 5 years. Tiffani worked with DESE and other educators across the state to unwrap standards to write the Item Specifications. Later she helped write assessments to accompany those Item Specifications for the Social Studies team.
Jason Lenz
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Jason earned his M.S. in Educational Technology from the University of Central Missouri with an emphasis in online instruction. He received his B.S. degree, his minor in history, and teaching certification from Missouri Western State University.
Jason has 20 years of teaching experience and has been with the St. Joseph School District for ten years. He has taught at Benton High School and the Virtual Academy.
Jason has experience with curriculum writing, creating inquiry based learning opportunities, and professional development.
Kaleb Johnson
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Mr. Johnson received his Ed.S. in School Superintendency from Northwest Missouri State University, his M.S. in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University, and his B.S. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in science from Missouri Western State University. He is currently completing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from Baker University.
Mr. Johnson has been with the St. Joseph School District for eight years. Throughout this time, he has taught at both Lindbergh Elementary School and Hyde Elementary School.
During his tenure with the SJSD, Mr. Johnson was a 2022 Teacher of the Year finalist, Shining Star Award winner, Apple Seed Grant recipient, math curriculum writer, ELA curriculum writer, VA curriculum writer, BLT member in his buildings, new teacher mentor, team-lead in his buildings, and a MTSS/PBIS core team member. Mr. Johnson has additional experience in workshop model, Clarity for Learning, lesson planning, classroom management, and professional development.
Heather Wiedmer
Curriculum Advisor
[email protected]
Heather received her M.S. in Reading Specialty from Arkansas State University. She received her B.S. ED in Elementary Education with an additional certification in Early Childhood from Missouri Western State University.
Mrs. Wiedmer has 21 years of experience in education and has been with the St. Joseph School District for 15 years. Throughout her time with the St. Joseph School District, she has taught at Webster Elementary School, Pershing Elementary School and Carden Park Elementary School.
During her tenure with the SJSD, Mrs. Wiedmer was a 2020 Teacher of the Year finalist, Virtual Academy curriculum designer and writer, Building Leadership Team member in her buildings, and a new teacher mentor, among other leadership and curriculum and instruction related responsibilities. Mrs. Wiedmer has extensive training in K-2 Literacy and Mathematics content.