Karen Mitchell

Dr. Mitchell is Director of Secondary Education with the Stanly County Schools in North Carolina.  

In her own words, " I began my work with the CLC in 2010 as part of the grant written by Dr. Elizabeth Gibbs with NCDPI. Collaborating with Dr. Gibbs, Pam Leitzell, Jerri Neduhaul, and Bev Columbo, we began the CLC initiative at Concord High School. As the API, one of the ways I facilitated this work was by arranging common planning for the PLCs to share their expertise through SMARTER planning to create the Course and Unit Organizers for all disciplines across the school community. In addition, I led the Social Studies teachers of CCS to create Course and Unit Organizers to support a guaranteed viable curriculum for the three Social Studies courses of World History, Civics and Economics, and American History aligned to the NC Essential Standards. I continued the work of the CLC and the CERs at Northwest Middle School in Cabarrus County, Garinger High School in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and at Monroe High School in Union County. In my roles as the Academic Content Facilitator and MTSS Coordinator, I introduced the S.I.M. through the CERs and X-treme Reading to deliver the content of Tiers I and II within the MTSS. Through SMARTER Planning, the S.I.M. guides the work within the PLCs. Although my administrative roles across these schools supported the CLC, I also used the CERs in the American History and Advanced Placement American History classes I taught. Having opportunities to work daily with teachers and students to assist them with mastering the critical content through the CERs is critical to my roles as teacher, administrator, and SIM Professional Developer."