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Angela Forero of Literacy Strategies Consulting

Jennifer Serravallo's Approved Bilingual Literacy Specialist

Professional History

I am a literacy coach, doctoral candidate, teacher of teachers, and emerging researcher with over 20 years of experience in the field of education. I approach my work from a social justice stance, believing that all students deserve rigorous, meaningful, and joyful learning experiences.


Drawing on Jennifer Serravallo's research-informed methods, I support teachers in fine-tuning their practice to help each child reach their potential as a reader, writer, and thinker. 

Soon after, I began teaching sixth-grade English language arts. As a classroom teacher, my students received numerous writing awards, including recognition in the National Letters About Literature competition, and one of my students won the 2019 New Jersey Hall of Fame Statewide Essay Contest for her essay on Ibtihaj Muhammad. I also secured grants to build a robust classroom library. 


My classroom served as a lab site for teachers engaged in inquiry-based professional learning on effective literacy instruction. As a teacher leader in the district, I led in-service professional development and mentored and coached colleagues and teachers new to the profession. I then went on to pursue and earn National Board Certification. In pursuit of becoming a full-time literacy coach, I completed a second master's degree from Teachers College as a graduate of the Literacy Specialist Program. 

Angela Forero of Literacy Strategies Consulting. Jennifer Serravallo Approved Bilingual Literacy Specialist

Coaching


Prior to joining Jennifer Serravallo and her team, I worked as a staff consultant for another organization, partnering with local, national, and international school districts to develop teachers' professional practices. As a coach for Literacy Strategies Consulting, I provide school districts with a needs-based assessment of high-priority literacy goals and work with district leaders to offer tailored and individualized support to strengthen and refine instructional practice.


Midyear reflections help us to assess and evaluate progress, allowing us to either revise or recommit to short- and long-term goals. Throughout the process, I work closely with supervisors and instructional leaders, as building in-house capacity is essential to sustaining this work. 

Research


Currently, I am a doctoral candidate in the Teacher Education and Teacher Development program at Montclair State University. My research interest lies at the intersection of culturally responsive teaching, linguistic diversity, and developing teachers' sociolinguistic consciousness. In 2024, I was awarded the Ana Maria Villegas Doctoral Scholarship from the Teacher Education and Teacher Development Program in the College of Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair State University.


My research team and I presented at the 2024 AERA Annual Meeting. Our paper, "Examining College Applications to Understand Student Expectations about Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs," was accepted out of over 11,000 submissions this year. I have also been serving as a graduate assistant, collaborating on research around multilingual learning and teaching with a full and associate professor across three successive years. 


In my free time, I love to spend time with my extended family in Bogotá, Colombia. I also enjoy hiking with my husband and children, reading, writing, and volunteering at a local food pantry.

Angela Forero Literacy Specialist working with a student

Feedback from Participants


"I enjoyed working with you and will definitely use the techniques and strategies you shared and modeled. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us."


Lizz Cook 

6th Grade ELA Teacher

Baldwin Middle School

Baldwin, NY


"Angie, we really appreciate your flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of the teachers and students. We have learned a lot from you again this year!"


Rachel Zigman

Reading Specialist

Fairview Elementary

Middletown, NJ


"Thanks for your expertise and guidance with our teachers. Your patience and flexibility do not go unnoticed. I appreciate the way you took the time to adapt on the fly to help teachers with their individual needs and answer their questions. I feel like they now look at student writing with a new lens. I hope to collaborate again in the future." 


Johanna Jackstadt

Reading Specialist

Leonardo Elementary School

Middletown, NJ


"There is a lot for me to take away from this professional development experience. I enjoyed working with Angie. I think she was very helpful and flexible. I think that the strategies and methods I learned from this PD are adaptable to different classrooms and different classroom situations."


Isabelle Petagna

9th Grade ELA Teacher

Baldwin High School

Baldwin, NY


"Thanks so much for your helpful insight, Angie!"


Kristin Valinotti

5th Grade ELA Teacher

Fairview Elementary

Middletown, NJ

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