Staff Bios

877.485.1973 | 541.485.1973
Info@NIFDI.org

877.485.1973 | Info@NIFDI.org

What our partners say…

“I would use the word transformational to describe our relationship with NIFDI.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Robin Shakespeare, Director of Education - Midland Academies Trust, UK

“NIFDI support was exemplary. It was structured in such a way as the teachers did not feel overwhelmed.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Nazam Hussain, School Psychologist - Bradford, UK

“Our principals have all agreed that NIFDI support is the single most changing professional development experience they have experienced in their careers.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Sean McKenzie, Director of Support Services - Bethel School District - Spanaway, WA

“The support for me as an administrator–looking at the data, and making decisions was really valuable. I couldn’t have done it by myself.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Rhonda Richetta, Principal - City Springs Elementary/Middle School - Baltimore, MD

“The small, bite-size level of feedback has supported me in improving as a teacher.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Ann Fuentes, Assistant Principal of Instruction - Idea Mission Academy - Mission, TX

“NIFDI has been a game-changer in terms of building student confidence. They have fun with the program.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Selina Ortiz, Assistant Principal of Instruction - IDEA Edinburg Academy - Edinburg, TX

“Working with NIFDI means you are working with the acknowledged authority on Direct Instruction.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Robin Shakespeare, Director of Education -Midland Academies Trust, UKm

“The thoroughness and robustness of the training was amazing to see. It was rigorous and professional, but sensitive to the individual.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Nazam Hussain, School Psychologist - Bradford, UK

“Schools with NIFDI have more and better discussions about how what they are doing is impacting individual student achievement.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Sean McKenzie, Director of Support Services - Bethel School District - Spanaway, WA.

“The support was very targeted.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Rhonda Richetta, Principal - City Springs Elementary/Middle School - Baltimore, MD

“The schools like the support and they are seeing the results”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Nazam Hussain, School Psychologist - Bradford, UK

“The teachers have gained so much knowledge behind the data tracking. They love the assistance… end of week goals, end of month goals…”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Selina Ortiz, Assistant Principal of Instruction - IDEA Edinburg Academy - Edinburg, TX

“NIFDI Implementation Managers build relationships. She is here to help and support. It is a caring, comforting approach.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Ann Fuentes, Assistant Principal of Instruction - Idea Mission Academy - Mission, TX

"The most valuable tool for a teacher is a NIFDI coach… side by side, shoulder to shoulder, to model for you, show you and give you feedback.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Rhonda Richetta, Principal - City Springs Elementary/Middle School - Baltimore, MD

"The tools and procedures taught in training are applicable... When I enter a new program the teachers pick it up easily.”

Click here to view our Partner Perspectives videos. Selina Ortiz, Assistant Principal of Instruction - IDEA Edinburg Academy - Edinburg, TX

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."

- Henry B. Adams

Education:
B.S. in Education, Kansas State University

Years of DI Experience:

20+

Toni Rice is an experienced Direct Instruction (DI) trainer, coach, and Implementation Manager with 36 years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher. She has taught a wide variety of grade levels and over 20 different DI levels. She has been honored as the Director of Outstanding After-School Programs for the State of Kansas (2006-2007) and received the Teacher of the Year award for USD #428 (2010-2011).

She began teaching at Park School in Great Bend, Kansas, the same year DI was introduced (in 2002), and became a coach the following year after exhibiting keen leadership skills. During her 4th year at Park School, Ms. Rice became the school’s Building Coordinator, holding the position for seven years. She was responsible for building-wide in-service presentations, and the initial training of all new teachers, along with data analysis and continued coaching.

Toni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Kansas State University and has continued her training with graduate studies at Ft. Hays State University, Loyola University, and the University of Oregon. She has worked as a NIFDI trainer for more than two decades and has trained teachers in Georgia, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, and Kansas. She currently works with schools in Texas as an Implementation Manager for NIFDI.

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer."

- Harriet Tubman

Education:
Bachelor of Science, Psychology, University of Maryland University College

Years of DI Experience:

Tenisha began her teaching career as a co-teacher (paraprofessional) at IDEA Walzem Academy in San Antonio, Texas. After receiving training, she gained classroom experience teaching Reading Mastery Signature Edition (RMSE) Language K, I, and Spelling, and DISTAR Arithmetic I. Subsequently, she was trained and taught RMSE Reading 1 and 2 and Language 2, and Connecting Math Concepts B. At the end of her service as a co-teacher, she was given the IDEA Schools’ Co-Teacher of the Year Award. In 2018, Tenisha became a Kindergarten Lead Teacher/Grade Team leader/Data Coach. In this role, she mentored teachers through observations and instructional feedback. She then became Assistant Principal of Instruction, still at Walzem, responsible for supporting Direct Instruction lessons in K-2 classrooms and behind-grade-level students in grades 3-5.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it."

- Peter Drucker

Education:
B.S. in Early Childhood Education, East Carolina University

Working on M.Ed. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Years of DI Experience:
20+

Tara Davis has been involved with Direct Instruction in various capacities for the last 25 years. She began teaching DI in 1998 when she started as a kindergarten teacher. During her time as a teacher, Tara developed a passion for DI and was trained as a peer coach so she could assist others with learning DI and making student gains. She soon moved into administration, where she oversaw the full DI implementation for grades K-2 for 9 years. During her time as an administrator, Tara developed a school DI coaching team, served as an instructional coach, and set up a school-wide system for reviewing and analyzing student data.

For the last 7 years, Tara has worked with the National Institute of Direct Instruction as an Implementation Manager, Project Director, and trainer throughout Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. Tara trains many of the NIFDI trainings developed for school leaders and coaches, including: Coaching Academies 1-4, Critical Components, and the Administrator’s Institute at the Annual National Direct Instruction Conference in Eugene, Oregon.

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."

- John Cotton Dana

Education:
BS in Child Development, Polytechnic State University

M.S. in Special Education, University of Oregon

Tamara is an experienced Direct Instruction (DI) teacher, trainer, and coach. She holds a Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Oregon and Oregon teaching certificates for Basic Elementary, preprimary through grade 9, and Standard Handicapped Learner II, preprimary through grade 12. From 1992 to 1998, Tamara was a resource room/self-contained special education teacher in Shasta & Cascade Middle Schools in the Bethel School District in Eugene, Oregon. From 1998 to 2004, Tamara was a 2nd grade teacher at Meadow View School, also in the Bethel School District. While at Meadow View, she served as a Teacher on Special Assignment for the school’s K-3 reading program, with responsibilities of conducting observations of Direct Instruction reading groups, data analysis, and curriculum training in addition to her regular teaching assignment.

From 2003 through 2009, Tamara was an Implementation Manager for NIFDI at middle schools and elementary schools in Guam. In 2010, she was Co-Director of Training for NIFDI, and in 2012 through 2018 became the Director of Training Development (DOTD). Both positions carried the responsibilities of creating, arranging, and evaluating training sessions for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and NIFDI consultants. In addition to her current position as an Implementation Manager for 4 schools, Tamara continues to provide DI training to teachers and administrators. Tamara is also one of two trainers for the Academy on Becoming an Effective Direct Instruction Trainer, which is an integral component of the National Direct Instruction Conference held in Eugene, OR.

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Implementing Direct Instruction Successfully

When implemented fully, Direct Instruction (DI) is unparalleled in its ability to improve student performance and enhance students’ self-esteem. In order to implement DI effectively, much more is required than simply purchasing instructional materials. The following two-part tutorial guides administrators, teachers, and coaches through the key features of a successful DI implementation. Part I provides an overview of the steps schools need to take in preparation for a DI implementation before school starts, while Part II provides an overview of the steps schools need to take after school has started.

IMPORTANT: This tutorial is an intensive video series comprised of 18 segments, each followed by a series of questions. Users should allow approximately three hours to watch the videos and complete the questions. NIFDI recognizes the high demand for time placed on school officials and, for this reason, has structured the tutorial so users may stop at any time and later resume where they left off.

Enroll in the tutorial here.