Kevin Sheehan - Growing a Growth Mindset: Unlocking Character Strengths through Childrens Literature

Dr. Kevin Sheehan Ed.D. is a tenured associate professor at Molloy College, where he has served on the faculty for over a decade. In 2013, Molloy College recognized Kevin with its Faculty Leadership Award for his work with children of poverty. In 2009, the New York State Council for Social Studies awarded Kevin the Distinguished Social Studies Educator Award for his efforts in preparing social studies teachers. Prior to his work at Molloy College, Kevin was the K-12 Social Studies Director for the Oceanside School District and was recognized as the outstanding supervisor for social studies by the New York State Council for Social Studies in 2002.

After receiving and publishing his doctorate from Hofstra, Storm Clouds in the Mind, Kevin has continued his research authoring several key articles on hope and has become a featured presenter on positive psychology topics across the nation. In another arena, influenced by positive psychology research that now defines his lifes mission, Kevin is an internationally recognized lacrosse coach and has had a distinguished career in coaching. Kevin was inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Branch of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Oceanside Circle of Pride Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jessica Ryan has worked as a fourth-grade teacher in Lynbrook School District since 2007. Jessica graduated from the Molloy College Honors Program with a bachelor of science in elementary education concentrating in mathematics and was recognized as the outstanding graduate student in her class when she received her masters in elementary education. In 2013, Jessica began working as an adjunct professor at Molloy College, where she teaches the Advanced Mathematics Methods course to graduate education students. In her role as a Molloy professor, Jessica has developed a variety of creative summer teacher institutes and professional development courses for teachers.

Jessica was awarded the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Associations Elementary Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award in 2012. In 2013, Jessica was named the Teacher of the Year by the 9/11 Tribute Center for her role involving students in community service. Jessica has been the recipient of numerous grants that have enabled her to develop innovative practices to meet the learning styles of diverse learners.

Angela Abend is a nationally acclaimed elementary gifted education teacher in Oceanside, New York. Before teaching gifted education, Angela taught sixth grade and has been in the Oceanside School District for over 25 years.

Elisabetta Bavaro is a dedicated lifelong learner who has worked as an enthusiastic elementary teacher in the Oceanside Union Free School District for 17 years. Betty has shared her insights and passion for social studies at both the intermediate and high school levels, and has been a regular presenter at the Long Island Council for the Social Studies, sharing innovative social studies practices since 2001.

Kathleen Nicoletti-Blake is currently an elementary school teacher in the Oceanside School District. She has a degree in special education and a masters degree in literacy.

Amy Kanavy-Curry has worked as an elementary teacher in Massapequa School District for the last 17 years. In 2015, Amy was honored to receive the Margaret Simon Award for Excellence in Elementary Social Studies Education from the Long Island Council for the Social Studies.

Dan Keegan, an administrator at the Oceanside Middle School, was named the Long Island Social Studies Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2002 and the New York State Social Studies Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2003. Dan is currently directing a nationwide lab school partnership, which marries the C3s Inquiry Design Model with the Teaching Channels TCH Team platform.

Jessica Keegan is the elementary curriculum supervisor in the Oceanside, New York, School District. She is a nationally board-certified teacher with 15 years elementary teaching experience.

Edward Kemnitzer is currently the executive assistant for Technology Integration for Curriculum Support & Development for the Massapequa Public Schools. Ed is a former English teacher, curriculum associate, and assistant principal; he is dedicated to learning and is a cofounder of EdCamp Long Island.

Dr. Anthony J. Marino is currently an elementary school teacher in the Oceanside Union Free School District and an adjunct professor at the School of Education, St. Johns University. Anthony received the Molloy College Alumni Educator of Excellence Award in 2014.

Kelly Marzocchi is an elementary school teacher in the Oceanside School District. She is currently working toward attaining a doctorate degree in instructional leadership at St. Johns University.

AnnMarie Pagano is currently going into her fourth year of teaching as the math teacher at the De La Salle School in Freeport, New York. In May 2016, she graduated with her masters degree in adolescent mathematics education from Molloy College, completing a thesis on the effects of grit on mathematics achievement.

Megan Pavlick works as a special education teacher in the Massapequa School District and as an adjunct professor at Molloy College. In 2011, Megans Student Council projects were recognized by Newsday, News12, and, in 2013, Megan attended the Project Zero Classroom at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Breanna Podmore is entering her fourth year of teaching, currently as an eighth-grade living environment teacher at the Scholars Academy, a middle and high school in Rockaway Park Queens, New York. She earned her bachelors degree at Molloy College in adolescent biology and special education, and will graduate with her masters degree in earth science from Stony Brook University in December 2016.

Danielle Rosenberg is a second-year, third-grade special education teacher in Queens, New York. Danielle graduated Molloy College with a dual masters in 2015. Danielle has presented her elementary social studies units integrating hope and grit in the American Revolution with Dr. Sheehan at the Metropolitan New York City Social Studies Conference.

Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski is an elementary school teacher in the Farmingdale School District. She is the codirector of the Long Island Writing Project, one of the coauthors of the Two Writing Teachers blog, and a recipient of the 2016 New York State English Councils Teacher of Excellence Award.

Faith Tripp has had a variety of teaching experiences in grades K-12, and is an adjunct professor in the Graduate Department at Molloy College. In 2016, Faith was named as principal of the Chestnut Street School in the West Hempstead Union Free School District, where she currently serves as the director of English as a New Language.

Caitlin Verity has been an elementary teacher in the Baldwin and Oceanside School Districts. She has found success through collaboration with others and enjoys professional development to further enhance her teaching expertise.

Megan Votke has worked as an elementary teacher in Oceanside School District. After graduating from the State University College at Oneonta with a bachelors degree in Childhood Education, Megan received a masters degree in literacy at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is currently working toward attaining a doctoral degree in instructional leadership at St. Johns University.

Monica Zenyuh is an elementary teacher in the Harborfields Central School District and an adjunct professor at Hofstra University. Monica is currently an ABD doctoral candidate at Hofstra University. Monicas dissertation involves creating a domain-specific grit instrument to measure mathematics grit and English-language arts grit.