Joy Koller

Early Literacy Interventionist /LS Resource Teacher
Early Childhood Educator

I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and Therapy for Specific Reading Disabilities from Massachusetts General Hospital. I hold a Massachusetts teacher license, K-6 and Dyslexia Specialist certification from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, a subsidiary of The International Dyslexia Association.

My passion for literacy, education, languages and cultures has fueled my desire to work internationally. Teaching in an international school is exhilarating, challenging and always a rich multicultural experience. I have more than ten years of international teaching experience in a variety of teaching positions and educational environments. I have held a range of teaching options including English as an Additional Language (EAL) Literacy Teacher, Reading Resource/Learning Specialist, and Early Years. Additionally, I have experience working within a number of international school models: English-speaking American international schools, International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, Spanish and English-bilingual local private schools and Montessori.

From this experience, I have learned to navigate a variety of instructional learning formats and curriculum. Adapting to the ethos within a private school in Mexico, reflective of the educational institutions of the host country, presented an additional opportunity to create a literacy initiative of free English resources for elementary students attending public-state schools and community cultural centers. In my teaching practice, I work from within the international community of multilingual learners but have also been immersed in the local Mexican culture and customs teaching host nationals English literacy in the elementary grades. With my varied international and personal intercultural experiences and living in Venezuela, United Kingdom, Singapore and Mexico, I have truly developed a strong foundation and appreciation of world cultures.

As an Early Years educator, I am passionate about nurturing strong literacy skills in young learners and turning struggling readers into successful readers. The journey towards literacy for all students is individuated through the unique experiences and needs of each reader. I view my job as working to maximize on the child’s inner capabilities revealed through diagnostic educational prescriptions, curricula and methods that match his or her learning styles and needs. I believe early identification, skill-based teaching and quality literacy intervention and instruction prevent the predictable consequences of early reading failure in elementary grades. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable learning journey for all beginning readers, I use appropriate methods and carefully chosen instructional approaches to teach the foundation of language and literacy skills in early childhood. I foster student learning through targeted, personalized instruction and mastery learning. I actively encourage, model, and support academic risk-taking behavior while promoting a positive attitude towards reading and literacy. I measure the effectiveness of reading instruction through formative assessments, daily observation and student work. Moreover, I use interactive technology as an instructional tool for differentiated reading instruction to assist my diverse language learners in learning how to read and write in English.

I believe that language is not only about teaching reading and writing, strong receptive and expressive language skills allows children to truly develop and express their personalities. Reading success or failure has a tremendous impact on a child’s self-confidence and motivation to learn. I develop close, positive and supportive relationships with my students by embracing their strengths and weaknesses. I am a life-long learner and base my professional development on the importance of learning new and quality teaching methods. As a Reading Interventionist, I use multi-sensory structured language programs as well as the Orton-Gillingham approach to engage and empower children in the reading and learning process. I manage and facilitate student learning as they access new skills in an explicit, systematic and cumulative way. I foster student learning through targeted, personalized instruction, where risk taking is encouraged and positive attitudes about literacy are prevalent. I strive daily to create a safe, nonjudgmental learning space where all students can blossom into lifelong learners and readers.

“Joy is a dedicated, enthusiastic, honest, reliable, creative multi-tasker and team player who can navigate school procedures in a bilingual environment. She takes initiative to grow her work with great passion for her vocation. While I have witnessed many of her qualities, I am especially inspired by her creativity, drive, knowledge and exceptional relational skills.”

—Lily Escalante, Primary Director - Yit’s Atil Instituto Educativo

“Joy is a conscientious, honest and open-minded educator. She actively promoted and delivered a variety of additional English initiatives and programs for our students and parents at home. Joy is very personable and sensitive to the issues involved in cross-cultural communication and professional in all relationships with colleagues.”

— Nerina Cecillia Sansores Fernandez, Director of English Department

“Miss Joy has been working with both of my sons for several months and they are both learning so much faster, much less painfully and are proud of what they can do. Not only has she helped them read, she has really boosted their self-confidence. It has gone from a struggle to something they find truly interesting. I feel so much better about our children's education knowing we have Miss Joy on our team!”

— Parent, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

“Joy possess a winning combination of a truly special teaching technique, a contagious passion for her trade and a willingness to share what she knows, and a pure and simple connection with my son Mathew. They have fun together and it shows. Thank you, SAS for Joy and Joy thank, you for all your support encouragement and enthusiasm.”

— Parent, Singapore American School

“Joy brings a creativity and delight in working with children that is evident to everyone, most particularly the children themselves. I have never seen a child who has been reluctant to go off to a remedial session; rather, there is an anticipation of an exciting learning adventure about to happen.”

— Ann O'Connell, School Counseling Psychologist, Cambridge MA

“Joy Koller is proactive, motivated and highly competent in all tasks she sets out to complete. Joy has the ability to relay information between the school, our support staff and development team. Joy has collaborated on specific ELL tasks with our development team. Everyone enjoys working with her. Joy will always go beyond the project scope to ensure customer satisfaction.”

— David Croudace, CEO, Sound Reading Solutions, Ithaca, NY

“On behalf of EEECF, we want to commend Joy Koller for LLI-Mexico's accomplishments and her outstanding effort in the field of bringing English Literacy to Mexican Youth. I recommend her as a great leader and a visionary.”

— Natalie Yaroslav, President, Early Education for Every Child Foundation, Sunnyvale, CA

“Joy Koller has been an enthusiastic contributor to AASSA ´s professional development programs. Joy, as an experienced international educator, is aware of the challenges facing teachers who work and live internationally and has involved herself in exploring and devising training options in the areas of special education and learning and reading disabilities.”

— Paul Poore, Executive Director of AASSA

 

Updated: October 1, 2021