Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson boasts a rich and diverse career spanning K–12 education. As a published author and seasoned educator, Heather's journey began in Southern California with a decade-long tenure in elementary education, where she held various roles. Her experience includes teaching kindergarten through fifth grade in both monolingual and bilingual settings. During this time, Heather pursued her passion for mathematics, earning a math specialist certification and supporting new teachers as a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) provider.

In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Heather served as a staff developer and peer coach, spearheading professional development initiatives in literacy, math, and second language acquisition in her district. Transitioning to middle and high school settings, Heather dedicated the latter half of her career to shaping young minds in English, Spanish, mental health education, and geometry. Her instructional repertoire spans grades 9–12, reflecting her adaptability and commitment to student success across various subjects. Her previous experience at the primary level provides powerful insight into working with secondary students who need targeted instruction to close instructional gaps.

Heather moved her expertise to the state of Wisconsin where she served as a literacy specialist, leveraging her extensive knowledge in pedagogy and content integration. She most recently supported a district that moved its middle school from “needing improvement” to “meeting state expectations”. This was achieved through the professional learning communities (PLC) process, identifying essential standards, creating ladder progressions, and emphasizing schoolwide writing strategies. Heather was an integral part of the shift in professional development and instructional practices.

Her areas of specialization encompass the gradual release of responsibility, close reading methodologies, differentiated instruction, collaborative learning, formative and summative assessments, inclusive practices, and the infusion of literacy across disciplines, all aimed at fostering academic growth and equity for all learners.

Presentations by Heather Anderson

• Gradual Release of Responsibility: The What and How
• The Art of Close Reading
• Collaborative Group Work and Conversations
• Balanced Literacy: Where Does One Start?
• Formative and Summative Assessments: When and How?
• Engaging Writers: Targeted Writing Strategies
• Restorative Practices
• Classroom Management: The Do’s and Don'ts
• Interdisciplinary Literacy Strategies
• How to Create a Comprehensive Unit Plan
• Mentoring the Beginning Teacher