JustAsk Profile of Allyn Anderson

Level

1639 Points

A few words about me: Ms. Anderson-Sodowsky is a veteran educator with over 30-years experience as a teacher in the areas of social studies, English, and special education. She taught in Kansas, Texas and most recently in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. To add to her teaching expertise, Anderson-Sodowsky has worked read more... Ms. Anderson-Sodowsky is a veteran educator with over 30-years experience as a teacher in the areas of social studies, English, and special education. She taught in Kansas, Texas and most recently in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. To add to her teaching expertise, Anderson-Sodowsky has worked with children from birth to 5 in programs for special needs children and their families, as well as teaching college graduate and undergraduate level classes in the areas of special education, social studies, and teacher education.

During her tenure in Fairfax County, Anderson-Sodowsky served as
one of two middle school social studies mentors in the first year of the Beginning Teacher Induction program (BTIP) in 1998-99. The BTIP coordinator characterized Anderson-Sodowsky and the other teacher as the program “stars.” Five beginning teachers they mentored received school nominations for the Fannie Mae Award. Her mentoring leadership continued at her home school, Lanier Middle School, where Anderson-Sodowsky coached colleagues, worked with her team members to make cross-disciplinary connections, worked to integrate technology, and designed a balanced assessment model. In August, 2007, Anderson-Sodowsky moved to Loudoun County Public Schools, where she served as a Civics and Economics teacher for honors students and as an Accelerated Literacy Skills teacher for students wishing to improve their basic reading, writing, and language skills.

Ms. Anderson-Sodowsky received the Virginia Council for the Social Studies/ Nystrom Award as the Virginia Social Studies Teacher of the Year in 2000 from the Virginia Social Studies Educators. Additionally, in 2002, she earned the prestigious status of a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early Adolescence/Social Studies – History.

Ms. Anderson-Sodowsky enjoys working with adolescents in their quests to become outstanding citizens. Her attitude and philosophy can be summarized by the statement Anderson-Sodowsky made, “I’ll do whatever it takes to get my students involved in the learning process…” One of her students told his mother, “One thing is for sure – I’m never bored in Ms. A’s class.”

Ms. Anderson-Sodowsky has shared numerous practical strategies for educators at state and national conferences. She has presented to standing-room-only audiences in her sessions, Working Smarter, Not Harder, I and II, which summarized strategies developed during her classroom career that enable teachers to set and maintain high standards for all students. She is recognized as a talented adult trainer, as well a writer for various curriculum needs and for writing assessments items for tests reflecting standards of learning.

Anderson-Sodowsky is a personable, creative, organized person who enjoys working with students to help them discover their strengths and talents. << less

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