The Write Tools trainers are experts who understand the importance of professional development that is valuable to teachers.

Our trainers have been (and some still are) real teachers, so we know how tedious some in-service trainings can be…some of us used to be the “bad kids” in the back of the room! With this in mind, we’ve designed fast-paced, interactive, and teacher-engaging training that provides implement-it-tomorrow resources and tools. The Write Tools’ trainers are pros at providing professional development that will keep you captivated from beginning to end!

Because we have used these strategies in our classrooms on a day-to-day basis with real students, we are experts at implementing them across content areas and grade levels, and can provide in-depth answers to your questions. Teachers leave with robust resources, renewed and ready to implement what they’ve learned in their classrooms the very next day!

Our expertise, combined with a sense of humor and flexibility allow us to immediately adapt to the needs of the group. With on-the-spot customized training that meets the unique needs of those attending, every minute spent together is worthwhile and productive. Find out what other participants say about The Write Tools.

Learn more about our trainers below.

Alice Greiner is a true believer in the strategies she offers you in The Write Tools.

As an elementary, middle school, and high school teacher, she has implemented these techniques with thousands of students during her 23 years in the classroom. As a Title I reading specialist, she has witnessed the power of these tools for at-risk readers and writers. As an educational consultant for more than a decade, she has seen first-hand what these strategies can do to empower teachers to truly be teachers of writing rather than assigners of writing. As a parent, she has watched her two sons (one a natural writer, the other the poster child for “I hate to write”) blossom into confident, organized communicators.

Alice’s years of classroom experience, mostly working in high-poverty, high English-learner schools, help her bring to educators a down-to-earth, practical approach to writing. Her relaxed style, sense of humor, and “learn from my mistakes” anecdotes help participants in her workshops feel immediately comfortable. After several hours with Alice, participants often comment, “You really have been a teacher, haven’t you?” Alice considers this the highest form of praise.

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Alice attended the University of Illinois for her first two years of college where she participated in a pilot teacher training program that placed teacher candidates in classrooms immediately. During her sophomore year, she discovered there really was life outside the plains of Illinois, so she transferred to the University of Denver to finish her undergraduate degree in English and education. After teaching for a number of years, she completed her master’s degree in middle school education, with a reading emphasis, through the University of Northern Colorado.

In l994, while still teaching full time, she began to offer workshops in reading and writing strategies. As schools discovered what Alice had to offer, and as they began to get great results from the in-depth support she provided, Alice made the difficult decision to leave her teaching career to consult full time. Several years later, Alice began to slowly add talented colleagues to her consulting group. This cadre of extremely experienced, very professional, yet down-to-earth trainers is making a difference for educators and students all across the United States.

Sue received her BA from Arizona State University and her MA from the University of Colorado at Denver. She teaches middle school in the Cherry Creek School District in Littleton, Colorado, currently in 7th grade. Her 27 year career began in elementary education but for the past 22 years, she has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in middle schools in Cherry Creek.

Sue has been using The Write Tools strategies for 10+ years. Her students write every day, even if it’s only for a short time. She says, “TWT makes so much sense to kids and parents. I love to show the planning and revising strategies to parents so that they know how to help their students at home. TWT makes writing easy for kids.”

When not teaching or traveling for TWT, Sue enjoys spending time with her three daughters and two dogs. She loves to read, ski, bike, and spend time in Vail, Colorado.

Gwen graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a graduate degree in remedial reading. For the past 25 years, Gwen has taught grades K-5 for the Aurora, Colorado, public schools. As an elementary teacher, she knows that writing is a critical piece of everyday instruction. Gwen integrates the foundations of writing into all subject areas in her classroom throughout the day. For the past eight years, she has been training educators in Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona how to effectively teach writing strategies .

Because she is an active teacher, Gwen is able to bring many student samples to her trainings. She is able to relate to teachers who are teaching children who have never held a pencil, all the way up to students who need instruction on researching and writing essays. Gwen enjoys training teachers because “nothing compares to the satisfaction I get when working with a group of teachers who can get as excited about teaching writing as I am!”

At the end of a busy day, Gwen enjoys time with her husband and two wonderful, active children. She marks each year by helping to make Loukoumathes, a Greek dessert, for 40,000 people.

Jennifer Letheby received her B.A. in sociology and education from the University of Denver, and her M.A. in educational leadership from the University of Northern Colorado. Jen has been in education since 1994, working as a Title I teacher, fourth and fifth grade teacher and middle school literacy coach. She has been a consultant with The Write Tools since 1999.

Enthusiasm and humor are what Jennifer brings to her trainings. Because of her experience working with all levels of students and teachers, she is a messenger of knowledge and creative ideas brought straight from the classroom. Jennifer’s enthusiasm comes from the ability of these strategies to create confident, successful writers. “Every time a student feels successful, his or her self-esteem goes up a notch, and it’s amazing what a confident kid can accomplish.”

Teaching demonstration lessons in different classrooms is one of Jennifer’s favorite parts of her job. “Because I don’t have the treat of having my own classroom anymore, I get to be like a favorite aunt. The kids typically enjoy having a guest in the classroom, and I have the advantage of freshness. …I’m ready to work with each and every student with 100% enthusiasm and energy.”

Jen’s busy schedule includes time with her husband, two sons, and dog. She loves to cook, entertain friends, hike, golf, fly fish—anything outdoors!

Theresa earned her undergraduate degree with a major in elementary education and minors in Spanish and bilingual/bicultural education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She earned her master’s degree in professional development through the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. She has taught grades K-7 in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado. Theresa is also trained in Thinking Maps, Kagan’s Cooperative Learning, Cognitive Coaching and Facilitation Training. In 2007, Theresa was named Teacher of the Year in Douglas County, Colorado where she currently is a Building Resource Teacher; providing professional development and mentoring to all staff.

Having taught writing strategies in her own classroom for 15 years and then as a staff developer for 15 years she is well versed in the difficulties teachers face. Theresa states, “I pride myself on my ability to know what is important. The job of a teacher can be difficult and time-consuming, so I work hard to make staff development meaningful. I keep up to date on current research in all content areas and try to differentiate staff development to meet the needs of the group.”

Theresa’s ability to positively affect so many teachers and students through her trainings is what keeps her going. She enjoys meeting educators from various cities and states because she knows she will learn from them as they learn from her.

Theresa lives in Littleton, Colorado and enjoys biking and skiing with her husband and two children. She slips away from it all to Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin, but also considers the simple pleasure of her monthly book club meeting a highlight in her life.

Carolyn earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education degree from Miami University and her master’s degree in curriculum and supervision from the University of Denver. She also holds a Type D Principal’s certificate. Carolyn has spent 7 years of her teaching career in the elementary grades, 19 years teaching literacy and social studies at the middle school level, and 4 years as a literacy coach and instructional resource teacher.

Carolyn has been a trainer for the past 14 years and likes to keep her training fast paced and fun. Her clear understanding of issues such as data assessment and differentiating teaching for a variety of learners makes her stand out as a trainer. Carolyn states, “As I’ve worked with teachers all over the United States, I’ve learned to appreciate how hard teachers work and how much they care about their students. The fact that I have something to offer that makes their job more successful and fun is a gift for me. I love that what I enjoy doing so much makes a positive difference in classrooms.”

Carolyn’s down time is spent playing bridge, traveling, reading, and visiting with family and friends.

Partner with us to provide the missing piece to your literacy instruction – a solid writing program.

The Write Tools has helped schools around the nation improve their writing instruction, increase student engagement, and improve test scores with Consistent, Systematic, Explicit Writing Instruction that includes Common Language, Common Strategies, and a Common Vision. The Write Tools training team is a group of professional staff developers with a passion for improving literacy. We believe in what we do. We know the strategies work because we have all used them with real kids in our own classrooms.

Contact The Write Tools at 303-221-5301or training@thewritetools.net to find out how we can partner with you to take your writing instruction to the next level.