Welcome to Educate to Lead!

Welcome to my blog and thank you for visiting.

My name is Valerie Simonoff and I am a teacher for Harlandale ISD. I am a new teacher and a new blogger. I spent 8 years as an Active Duty Coast Guard member (my specialty was HR), and then 3 years as an HR professional in the private sector and for the government. I just recently enrolled in the Troops to Teachers program, and they have helped me begin this new journey as an elementary teacher.  

I am currently working at an “at risk” school, and just signed my 2015-2016 contract as a fifth grade English Language Arts & Reading/Writing teacher. I am excited to take on this challenge and document my journey by blogging.

Last semester, I held the role as the Campus Interventionist and provided high-level literacy and writing intervention for struggling students in the STAAR test taking grades. Intervention included: modeling, student-centered activities, explicit and implicit instruction, and progress monitoring. I feel grateful to have had this position, and I believe that my initial role helped set me up for success for the upcoming year.

Let the blogging begin!