Teaching and Professional Development

College/University Teaching Experience: Undergraduate

Siena College, Latham, New York

  • EDUC481 Instructional Theory and Practice in Inclusive Classrooms 2012-2013, 2018-present
  • EDUC461 Literacy and the Reflective Practitioner 2021-present
  • EDUC381 Culturally Responsive Teaching Methods 2022
  • EDUC261 Foundations of Language and Literacy 2013, 2018, 2020-present
  • EDUC210 Current Issues in Education 2016, 2017

Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York

  • ED362B Professional Education Portfolio 2017 
  • ED362C Adolescent Literacy 2017
  • ED350 Elementary Education Student Teaching Seminar 2013– 2016
  • ED334 Practicum in Integrated Curriculum and Instruction 2014- 2017
  • ED103 Introduction to Teaching 2013 – 2016

Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont

  • EDU 2177 Ways with Words:  Literacy in Practice 2011 – 2012
  • EDU2180 Principles of Developing Literacies 2012

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

  • TE408 Crafting Teaching Practices (English Language Arts) 2007
  • TE407 Teaching (English Language Arts) Subject Matter to Diverse Learners 2006

College/University Teaching Experience: Graduate

Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont

  • EDU5177 Ways with Words:  Literacy in Practice 2011 – 2012
  • EDU5180 Principles of Developing Literacies 2012

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

  • TE843 Reading, Writing, and Reasoning in Secondary School Subjects 2008
  • TE802 Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice I 2007
  • TE804 Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice II 2008

K-12 and Professional Development Teaching Experience

Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, & Essex BOCES, Literacy Consultant. Saratoga, NY 2018-2020

  • Collaborated with statewide colleagues in rollout and professional development for New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards.
  • Collaboratively created and implemented professional development workshops for teachers across 31 constituent districts. 
  • Provided district support on consultant basis for instruction and curriculum design, especially related to literacy teaching practices and Next Generation Standards. 

Cranford Public School District, Literacy Consultant. Cranford, NJ 2017-2020

  • Planned and implemented professional development for English and literacy special education teachers in grades 6-12. Focused on instructional strategies related to argumentation, multimodal text sets, disciplinary language. 
  • Supported ongoing departmental efforts with curriculum alignment and crafting authentic benchmark assessments. 

College-Ready Writers Program, National Writing Project 2013-2017

  • Site Leadership Team Member:  Collaborated to plan and present writing-rich professional development (45 hours/ELA teacher/year).  Co-presented mini-summer institutes and regular professional development workshops to middle/high school teachers on argument writing.
  • Support Coach:  Worked closely with two teachers in a rural middle/high school to support implementation of professional learning.  

Bronx Academy of Letters, Bronx, New York   2004-2005

  • Literacy Coach:  Organized curriculum development and professional development for literacy teachers.  

Highland Park Middle/High School, Highland Park, New Jersey 1999-2004

  • High School English Teacher:  taught and developed curriculum for high school English, creative writing, and remedial literacy support classes.  

Teacher Opportunity Corps, Columbia University Teachers College, New York, New York 1999

  • Peer Coach:  Conducted observations and pre/post conferences with ten beginning teachers in New York City, ranging from preschool to high school settings.  Focused on clarifying pedagogical purpose and effects on student learning and participation.

Barton Middle School, El Dorado, Arkansas 1996-1998

  • English Teacher: Developed curriculum and taught middle school English.  

Northwest Halifax High School, Littleton, North Carolina 1993-1996

  • High School English Teacher:  Created curriculum for new writing course and new college transition course.  Served on multiple county-wide school improvement committees.   

Virgil Middle School, Los Angeles, California   1993

  • Middle school teaching intern:  Assumed responsibility for three 7th grade Social Studies classes.

Administrative Experience

Siena College, Director of Teacher Preparation Program 2020-present

  • Coordinate secondary level teacher preparation program leading to initial certification in English, social studies, math, sciences, business, and world languages. 
  • Conduct data analysis and review for national program accreditation. 

Skidmore College, Education Studies Department 2013-2016

  • Director of Student Teaching:  Responsible for evaluating student teachers in field placements; primary liaison between college and partnering elementary school administrators and teachers; coordinate field supervisors.

Highland Park Middle/High School, Highland Park, New Jersey 2001-2004

  • English Department Coordinator:  Led department in curriculum revision, mentored new teachers, developed and led professional development workshops on writing instruction.

Professional Workshops and Presentations

Dawson, C. (2022). Introducing and prioritizing the New York State Next Generation Literacy Standards.  East-West School of International Studies, Queens, NY. 

Dawson, C., Gruttola, J., & Mendes, J. (2021). Grapple with grammar! Bringing grammar instruction into the 21st century. New York State Staff/Curriculum Development Network. 

Strock, S., Byrnes, J., Dawson, C., Krystofiak, H., & Schirrmacher-Smith, J. (2020). ELA scaffolds for ELLs: Bringing the Next Generation Standards within reach of ALL students. New York State Staff/Curriculum Development Network Annual Meeting. 

Dawson, C. (2019, December). Organizing textual evidence:  Helping students plan argument writing.  Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, NY. 

Dawson, C., & Battiste, S. (2019, November; 2020, November). Writing in the social studies classroom:  Tackling the enduring issues essay.  Washington County Professional Development Day. Hartford, NY. 

Dawson, C. (2019, April & November). Taking a stand:  Helping students compose and support their own claims. Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, NY. 

Dawson, C. (2019, November). Inferring meaning and making connections:  Supporting students with interpreting unfamiliar texts. Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, NY. 

Dawson, C. (2019, April). Helping students understand and use academic language. Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, NY. 

Dawson, C. (2018 & 2019). What’s going on in this text?  Visual thinking strategies to help students interpret unfamiliar texts.  Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES, NY. 

Dawson, C. (2019, October). Building authentic reading and writing benchmark assessments.  Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ. 

Dawson, C. (2019, April). Extending our practices:  Articulating teaching priorities, teaching craft choices, and providing feedback.  Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ.

Dawson, C. (2018, November). Writing arguments of policy:  Entering conversations, integrating academic language, and connecting evidence to claims.  Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ.

Dawson, C. (2018, March). Helping students enter (disciplinary) conversations: Supporting academic writing across the curriculum. Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ. 

Dawson, C. (2018, February). Curating text sets and composing arguments: Engaging students with multimodal text sets. Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ. 

Dawson, C. (2018, January). Composing and supporting claims: Engaging students with multimodal text sets. Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ.

Dawson, C. (2017, December). Visual thinking strategies in secondary ELA classrooms: Making evidence-based claims about visual texts.  Cranford Public School District, Cranford, NJ.

Dawson, C., & Ertz, G. (2015).  Visual thinking strategies:  Engaging students in building visual literacy by articulating and supporting their own opinions.  Session featured in the 2015 Summer Literacy Institute sponsored by Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).  Albany, NY.

Ertz, G., & Dawson, C. (2015).  Engaging students in visual thinking strategies to support literacy development.  Invited workshop for elementary teachers in South Glens Falls Central School District, NY.  

Dawson, C., French, N., Gort, N., Mazura, C., Rapant, J., & Silverman, E. (2015).  2015 Midwiter Retreat: A journey of (re)claiming our writer identities.  Full-day teacher workshop for Capital District Writing Project members.  Latham Ridge Elementary School, Latham, New York.

Dawson, C., Langsam, J., & Provinsal, M. (2014).   Elementary teacher certification in New York:  Preparing for Task 4 of the edTPA.  Online workshop presented to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Maryland, College Park.  

Dawson, C. (2014).  Writing for the edTPA:  Making and supporting claims about your teaching and student learning.  Workshop presented for Conference on Independent Colleges and Universities, Latham, NY.  

Dawson, C., Rapant, J., Ertz, G., Barcomb, H., & Gort, N.  (2104).  2014 Midwinter Retreat:  Calling our souls back through writing and art.  Full-day teacher workshop for Capital District Writing Project.  Francis Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY.  

Dawson, C., Rapant, J., Barcomb, H., & Yerou, L. (2013).  2013 Midwinter Retreat:  Re-envisioning and re-framing the conversations about education.  Full-day teacher workshop for Capital District Writing Project members.  University at Albany, Albany, New York.

Dawson, C. (2009).  Grammar matters:  Embedding grammar lessons in literature and writing study.   Invited workshop for TE408 (Crafting Teaching Practices) and TE804 (Reflection and Inquiry in Teaching Practice II) at Michigan State University.  East Lansing, Michigan.

Dawson, C. (2004).  Creating effective assessment practices.  Faculty workshop presented at Bronx Academy of Letters.  New York, New York.

Dawson, C. (2004).  Using curriculum mapping and understanding by design in unit planning.  Faculty workshop series presented at Bronx Academy of Letters.  New York, New York.

Dawson, C. (2003, 2004).  Writing the personal statement/college essay.  Parent/student workshop presented in Highland Park Public Schools.  Highland Park, New Jersey.

Dawson, C., & Scott, V. (2002).  Using writing to develop critical thinking:  Integrating test preparation without limiting instruction.  Faculty workshop presented to all humanities teachers in Highland Park Public Schools.  Highland Park, New Jersey.

Dawson, C., & Scott, V. (2001).  Inspiring and engaging writing through the use of visual arts.  Faculty workshop open to all teachers in Highland Park Public Schools.  Highland Park, New Jersey.

Dawson, C., & Tucker, J. (2001, 2000).  Engaging students in Shakespeare.  Faculty workshop presented to teachers in Edison Public Schools (2000) and Highland Park Public Schools (2001).  Middlesex County, New Jersey.