About

Title

ELA Instructional Coach, grades 6-12

SEL Coach and Coordinator, grades 9-12

English Teacher

Adjunct Professor

Specialty Certifications

AI Academy

MBSRT

Meditation

Breathwork

Sound Healing Level I

Awards

Fellow of The Academy of Teachers, Columbia University 2023

Finalist for National University Teacher Award 2021

Inspirational Educator 2020

Jackson Liberty Teacher of the Year 2017

Finalist for Ocean County Teacher of the Year 2017

Educational Publications

Coursera AI Syllabus for ELA

AI for Education SEL Prompts

Education First Self Care Isn’t Selfish

National Council Teachers Of English (NCTE), Strategy Guide

English Journal, Teacher to Teacher

Curriculum Contract

Albert.io

College Board

Learning Alliances

Move This World

Paradigm Learning

A bit about me…

I’m a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) specialist, teacher and writer who helps teachers better engage their students and parents better understand their teenagers.

I’ve spent over twenty years teaching at the high school level and four years at the college level.  My work has been published by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Highlights magazine. After a successful career coaching teachers on student engagement, I now advise them on how to create a safe space to build students’ self-awareness, social awareness, and self-management skills. After the pandemic, I’ve broadened my writing and speaking to include parents of teens, in an effort to guide them on how to communicate more effectively with their children. More recently, with the rise of AI in social media and education, I’ve expanded my knowledge by completing coursework on AI ethics, assessment redesign, and academic integrity.

When I’m not teaching or speaking, I enjoy reading YA literature, creating original content for my online marketplace Opal’s Gems , watching my daughter play volleyball, and sleeping in on Saturdays.  I’m a Fellow of The Academy of Teachers through Columbia University, the Past President of the New Jersey Writing Alliance, a member of NCTE and NJCTE, and a member of two Department of Education committees - the NJ State Program Approval Committee (SPAC) and the Teacher Leader Network.  

For more information see my Linked In profile.

I’m available for speaking and writing projects, as well as private consultations on AI, SEL, mindfulness, trauma informed practices, and any and all ELA professional development for grades 6-12. You can reach me at Kristieopaleski@gmail.com.