Induction Coaches

Kathi Jo Walder - Lead Induction Coach

Kathi Jo has been teaching elementary and middle school students for over twenty years and also served as assistant principal. She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in reading, from the University of Wyoming. Her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership was received from the University of Northern Colorado. She worked as a Clinical Professor in St. Vrain with the PIE Program before becoming the Lead Induction Coach. As the Lead Induction Coach, she supports teachers new to the district as well as manages the induction program. Kathi Jo thoroughly enjoys offering professional development opportunities and is an instructor for various trainings including Adaptive Schools and Mentor Training.

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. - Ronald E. Osborn

Kathy Bergren

Kathy Bergren has been an induction coach for 4 years. Before coaching, she taught Kindergarten, third grade, and combo classes at Sanborn Elementary. Kathy is an instructor for several classes in the school district. She teaches Classroom Management, Cognitive Coaching, Sharpen Your Skills in Cognitive Coaching and has facilitated Rigby training and Combo class support. Her favorite class ot teach is cognitive Coaching. “Cognitive Coaching is a truly transformational class. It gives the gift of listening to others.” She loves using her coaching skills to help the new teachers grow and learn.

A quote by Richard Henry Dann.   "He who dares to teach must never cease to learn."

Traci Haley

Traci has worked in the St. Vrain Valley School District for the past eleven years. She has been both a classroom teacher and a Title 1 reading specialist. She is beginning her fifth year as a clinical professor in St. Vrain. She works with novice and experienced elementary teachers. In addition to her position as a Clinical Professor, Traci teaches various reading courses for the district.
Traci received her undergraduate degree in Sociology of Education at the University of Northern Colorado. She received her Master’s Degree in Literacy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While there, she earned The Best Should Teach Award which is presented annually to the outstanding Master’s graduate from The School of Education.

Jaime Escalante captured Traci’s view of education perfectly, “I teach with my heart and soul and not with my mouth alone.” She believes that it is only when you teach with your heart and soul that you can truly have a positive impact on the lives of children.

Patti Taylor

Patti came to education after careers in publishing and journalism.   In 17 years as a classroom teacher in St. Vrain, she taught English and drama to secondary students in grades 7 through 12 at Frederick Middle-Senior High School and Mead Middle School.   She has been deeply involved in teaching writing and also team-taught interdisciplinary language arts and social studies at eighth and eleventh grades.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -- William Butler Yeats

Alain Valette

Alain has taught in the St. Vrain Valley School District for fifteen years. He started his career at Sunset Middle School teaching technology and math. Alain then moved to Niwot High where he taught math and coached swimming.  As an Induction Coach, Alain mentors beginning teachers and teaches classes in classroom management, Adaptive Schools, Classroom Instruction that Works, and Lesson Study. Before becoming an educator, Alain was a structural engineer in Chicago. Alain recently completed his Type D Administrative License in order to become a middle or high school principal.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Kristine Hagemeyer

Kristine has been an educator in St. Vrain Valley Schools for 15 years.  Within those years, she has taught English, reading and science at the secondary level.  She received her Masters in literacy from CU and used this degree the last nine years as a Literacy Coordinator/Coach/Teacher at Longs Peak Middle School.  Her passion for secondary literacy carried over into district level groups, such as the Secondary Literacy Committee, 6 Traits Cadre, the Colorado Basic Literacy Act Committee.

 As an Induction Coach, she works with new teachers at the secondary level by coaching, consulting, and collaborating.  Believing that learning never stops, Kris is always taking classes to help her grow professionally.  Some courses that she has taken recently are Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar Parts I and II, Adaptive Schools Institute, A Framework of Understanding Poverty, Creating and Sustaining Professional Learning Communities, and Montano’s Academic Competence, Levels 1 and 2.

 “Intelligence plus character is the definition of true education.”  Martin Luther King, Jr.