Dana Simpson West

Dana is an Educational Consultant and National Trainer/Instructor for PLS® and has presented PLS graduate courses throughout the United States. As the coordinator for Missouri, she has presented a variety of professional development workshops, conference presentations, and courses for Missouri educators.

Dana was an educator in the Missouri public school system for 29 years. She earned her Master's degree from Maryville University in St. Louis, and has been the recipient of several Excellence in Education awards. As a seasoned professional, Dana uses her communication and facilitation skills to present training that contains real-world experiences and practical strategies. Her interactive, hands-on presentations model the concepts she presents and display her enthusiasm, talent, and passion for teaching.

Some of the topics Dana presents are:

• The Foundations of a Differentiated Classroom and Differentiated Instructional Strategies
  Acquire key knowledge and skills that are the foundation of a successful differentiated classroom environment. Gain expertise in implementing differentiated instructional strategies that meet the needs of all learners.
• Classroom Management that Develops Responsivle and Self-Directed Learners
  Learn how to teach responsible behaviors and establish a classroom environment that invites responsibility for learning and creates self-directed learners.
• The Forgotten Keys to Motivation
  Explore beliefs about motivation and discover various techniques for increasing student motivation and self-efficacy. Unlock the forgotten keys to motivation and design lessons that engage learners.
• Brain-Compatible Learning
  Experience quick and easy techniques for establishing a classroom environment that is brain-compatible. Acquire strategies for creating lessons that maximize learning and retention.
• Teaching with Style
  Delve into the characteristics of the four sensory styles: Visual, Auditory, Tactual, and Kinesthetic and the learning styles created by Sequential, Global, Abstract, and Concrete preferences. Uncover your personal learning style, acquire techniques for recognizing students' learning styles, and learn how to design lessons that teach all learners.
• Communications and Teamwork in the Classroom
  Practice effective verbal strategies for communicating and connecting with students and colleagues. Learn techniques and activities for building community and teamwork in the classroom.
• Is Your Instruction Active, Engaging, Creative, and Concrete?
  Refine your instruction by designing lessons that are active, engaging, creative, and concrete. Discover the characteristics that make a lesson meaningful and memorable.

The comments received by Dana's participants and clients speak highly of her instructional methods:

"You provided a positive, comfortable learning environment."

"Dana is extrememly knowledgeable about the material, and provides a lot of meaningful and practical examples."

"The material was relevant and engaging. You modeled the strategies well."

"She has great pacing and kept us actively involved!"

"She kept the course and participants focused and flowing!"

Ideas I can take back to my classroom tomorrow!"

"Dana kept my interest and made the material come alive to me!"

"I now have concrete strategies to take to my classroom."