Bridget Cassidy
Throughout her 30 plus year career as an educator, literacy coach, and curriculum developer, Bridget has worked diligently to utilize data to guide not only instruction but to also support her colleagues within the classroom. From the time she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from CUNY-College of Staten Island through her graduate work at the Pennsylvania State University, where she earned two master’s degrees, she has worked tirelessly as an advocate for instruction that helps increase student learning thereby ensuring their success in literacy.
As part of that process, Bridget works closely with her colleagues to not only present best practices but to continue to diligently research and create a curriculum that meets the needs of all the students. She has been continuing this practice through Professional Development in faculty and grade level meetings. She continues to support this in District presentations. Many colleagues benefit from her leadership and guidance utilizing these best practices through her continuous support helping to sustain and lead teachers to meet all their students’ needs. Her belief is that students can learn when they and their teachers are provided the right tools to support a positive and rewarding learning experience. As she continues to gather information and gain experience, she cannot help but think why she started this journey. Her son, now 38, struggled in school and she needed to find a way to support him in his learning, this led her to understanding various aspects of how and why students learn. Her daughter, now 28, was able to grasp concepts easily but needed a little support to stay on track. She says, "I cannot be prouder of the adults they are today, it is amazing where journeys can take you."