Nicole A. Conners retired from Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) after 30 years of service as a special education teacher and then as a program manager for the Special Education Mentor Coach program and Intensive Support Team (IST). In addition, she has served in the capacity of an adjunct professor at George Mason University, University of Virginia, and George Washington University since 2008. 

Dr. Conners graduated with her doctorate from George Mason University in 2008 with research interests in developing special education teacher practices from novice to expert through coaching and mentoring. She worked collaboratively with leadership to design and develop a special education mentor coach program in the Office of Special Education Instruction (OSEI). She supported the coaching development of eight mentor coaches who worked closely with novice teachers, zero to three years of experience, for continuous improvement and reflective practice. In addition, she worked collaboratively to design and develop the Intensive Support Team (IST) to build the capacity of administrators and school staff to consistently design, deliver and implement systematic and high-quality behavioral, socio-emotional, and instructional evidence-based practices focused on the whole child. 

One capstone during her career within FCPS was as a presenter for the Virginia Department of Educational Leadership Academy (ASELA) Cohort on Coaching for Results. The presentation focused on strategic leadership and the development of learning cultures through professional learning communities (PLCs) and coaching focused on positive student outcomes.

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Biography

Jaime Osborne is a career educator with nearly twenty years of experience in public, private, overseas, and independent schools – as well as use of innovative practices and frameworks, including the International Baccalaureate, standards-based grading and assessment, inquiry-based learning, and improvement science for instructional and organizational problems of practice.  Most of her career has been spent overseas at international schools in Europe, southeast Asia, and the Middle East.  In addition to teaching, Jaime has also been a department chair, a representative to the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools, and a coordinator of professional development.  Her research interests include department chair instructional leadership, social studies education, and adult learning and development.  In her spare time, she enjoys international travel, reading, and visiting local wineries in Virginia.

Academic Credentials

Ed.D. University of Virginia – Administration & Supervision; M.Ed. University of Virginia – Administration & Supervision; M.T. University of Virginia – Social Studies Education; B.A. University of Virginia – Foreign Affairs; Commonwealth of Virginia Postgraduate Professional License  – Admin and Supervision K-12, History and Social Sciences 6-12 […]

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Erin is a graduate of West Virginia University for all of her schooling, including a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Reading and Literacy Education. She is currently in her tenth year of teaching, and after spending eight of them teaching middle school history, she is now teaching 5th grade in Maryland. Her research interests include incorporating social studies and social justice literacy into the classroom, equitable behavior strategies, and trauma informed teaching. In addition, she is passionate about incorporating outdoor education into the curriculum. […]

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