Joan Vander Walde
Professional Experience
Joan has over 4 decades of experience as an educator, educational leader and professional development mentor, coach, program director and evaluator at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland, Center for Jewish Education in Baltimore, Maryland, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, BetterLesson, as well as in camps and supplementary schools. Her experience as a general and Judaic studies teacher, school counselor, program director, curriculum developer, middle school principal and professional development provider has instilled in her the importance of supporting educators to engage students in meaningful and motivated learning. Joan lives in Silver Spring, MD.

Educational Background
Joan holds a masters degree in counseling from George Washington University and a BA, magna cum lauda from Brandeis University, concentrating in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, studio art and K- 8 education.

Expertise
Educational coaching and mentorship Curriculum Design and Lesson Planning Professional Learning Community Protocols Social Emotional Learning Designing and Implementing Innovative Instructional Strategies Integrating intrinsic motivation into learning and assessment activities Identifying and reaching goals/outcomes Building a strong sense of community within a classroom setting and within a school Developing leaders’ mental paradigms, productivity and performance