Eight educators to serve as Master Teachers

Eight educational leaders from across the district have earned the title of Master Teacher and are looking forward to sharing their expertise as well as learning from others in this new role. 

When you get the chance, please extend your congratulations to the following educators:

• Dan Bennett, 8th Grade Math, Colonial Middle School
• Brooke Carpenter, Library/Media Specialist, Colonial Middle School
• Katie Kennedy-Maurer, 6th Grade English/Language Arts, Colonial Middle School
• Elyse Nevins, School Counselor, Conshohocken Elementary School
• Jen Ramsden, Reading Specialist, Plymouth Elementary School
• Josh Rothstein, 8th Grade English/Language Arts, Colonial Middle School
• Dr. Mary Therese Sabatino, District Speech Language Pathologist, Whitemarsh/Conshohocken Elementary schools
• Jason Williams, Spanish Teacher, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School

These individuals were selected after an application process where they demonstrated exceptional commitment to instructional excellence and leadership in our schools. Master Teachers serve three-year terms and are responsible for providing mentorship, leading staff development, and belonging to various district committees. The title carries an expectation of collaboration and cooperation with fellow educators across the district.

That is exactly why many of the newly minted Master Teachers wanted to take on the role.

“I became a Master Teacher to give back to the profession in the same spirit that inspired me to become a teacher in the first place,” said Mr. Rothstein. “I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors, and I wanted to support others in that same way — whether through mentoring new teachers, leading professional development, or helping fellow CSD teachers adapt to evolving challenges like AI and digital learning.”

Mr. Williams agreed, noting that he has benefited from the wisdom of other educators who helped shape who he is as a teacher. 

“These teachers -- from my cooperating teacher in college to my departmental colleagues today -- inspired me to want to become a part of the Master Teacher program so that I, too, can give back to others and share some of the things that I have learned in my professional journey thus far,” he said.

Dr. Sabatino said she felt her professional journey has led her to a place where she is confident in sharing her experience and knowledge as a way to support others. 

“My strong background in oral language development, especially as it relates to early literacy acquisition, may be helpful to the elementary classroom teachers who are working to support students' comprehension skills as part of the district's shift to structured literacy,” she said.

Ms. Nevins said she is looking forward to collaborating with others from across the district because sharing ideas is meaningful to her.

“I believe that ongoing learning is essential to growth, and I’m excited for the opportunity to gain new perspectives that will help me continue evolving into the best educator I can be,” she said.

Gaining knowledge and perspective on student academic growth and achievement is key for Ms. Kennedy-Maurer, who hopes to continue learning from others through her Master Teacher role. 

“As a result, I hope students I work with can become more empathetic, resilient, critical thinkers both inside the classroom and outside the classroom,” she said.

Being able to work with other educators outside their designated buildings is also important for the Master Teachers, who cited that they look forward to meeting more people district-wide.

“As a Master Teacher, I hope to deepen my collaboration with educators across buildings, gaining new perspectives and strategies that enhance instruction. I aim to grow as a leader and learner while supporting a culture of excellence and equity,” said Ms. Ramsden.

Mr. Bennett also noted that he is looking forward to extending his relationships while enhancing his leadership capabilities.

“I'm hoping that being a part of the program will help me develop my leadership skills, as well as allow me the opportunity to collaborate with teachers around the district to further our goals of increasing student achievement and developing life-long learners. I am also looking forward to mentoring and supporting new teachers as they hone their craft,” he said.

All of the candidates believe in the value of the Master Teacher program, because it benefits all stakeholders by promoting a culture of continuous learning, as Ms. Nevins put it.

“It creates space for educators to grow together, share their strengths, and support one another in the pursuit of lifelong learning,” she said.

The program also enables the district to capitalize on the “wealth of experience” that exists at Colonial, said Mr. Bennett. 

“The Master Teacher program strengthens the school community by highlighting the shared expertise of our colleagues and using that to engage and inspire other teachers to try new things,” he said.

That spirit of continuous improvement is important to Ms. Ramsden, who said the program promotes consistent, high-quality instruction across buildings through collaboration and shared best practices. In addition, Mr. Williams noted it gives teachers a voice.

“It allows for teachers to have a unique voice,” he said.

That empowerment leads to a “ripple effect,” said Mr. Rothstein.

“By empowering experienced educators to lead, support, and mentor others, it builds a stronger, more collaborative culture,” he said. “Students benefit from more engaged, well-supported teachers, and the entire community grows through shared expertise, innovation, and continuous improvement. It's a win-win for all.”