Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Danielle Shanley

Danielle Shanley earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership from the College of Saint Elizabeth in May of 2006. Her graduate work focused primarily on the academic and emotional development of adolescents, the Constructivist Classroom and curriculum development. She was the sole recipient of the 2006 Student Academic Leadership Award in Graduate Education.

Mrs. Shanley has taught English/Language Arts at all levels grades 6-12 including basic skills, inclusion classes as well as honors level courses. Her classroom training also includes differentiated instruction and Advanced Placement language and Composition. During her tenure she served as advisor for numerous activities including Student Council, the Lunch Bunch Readers, Students of Shakespeare, and Summer Reading Olympics. In her career, she has actively mentored new teachers, written many high school and middle school curricula, facilitated workshops for professional development, and participated in other Principal’s Advisory activities to promote healthy school culture.

Mrs. Shanley is proud of her work, for the past two and one half years, as the Instructional Supervisor of English, Reading and Libraries at West Essex. Under her supervision, the English and Reading departments have focused on selecting more contemporary titles, representing a variety of authors, voices and genres, and promoting new electives including Advanced Placement Language and Composition and the SAT prep course. The department welcomed Achieve 3000 (a differentiated, Internet based reading program), and are working toward more common assessments at all levels. She has implemented initiatives to address common expectations for writing, reading and research. Implementing Standards-based, thematic curricula, built on Big Ideas, Essential Questions and Enduring Understandings has been only one of her many goals.

As the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, with the support of the Instructional Supervisors, she hopes to facilitate academic achievement through differentiated instruction, formative assessment, and the application of technology. She is working closely with the Local Professional Development Committee to ensure meaningful professional development for teachers in these areas. Additionally, as part of her responsibilities, she is working with the faculty to increase academic achievement on standardized testing, and utilize test date to improve instruction.

Prior to teaching, Mrs. Shanley served as the Director of Training for Barami Enterprises, where she traveled conducting large and small group sales and management training programs. Her interests include traveling, cooking, music, theater and great books. When not working, she spends time with her husband and children.