Meet The PIIT Team

I graduated from MSU with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  I studied Elementary Education, Child Development, and Psychology.  After graduating I aquired my AMS (American Montessori Society) certification in for Montessori Primary (3-6 year olds).  I worked for 25 years in Montessori Education.  I was a lead teacher for 20 years.  During these years, I ran professional develppment courses for teachers and did parent education for our school community.  I currently work at ADMTEI training Montessori Teacher candidates and I am an active Board member for MMS (Michigan Montessori Society).  I started this past July with PIIT.  I realized although I truly enjoy working in a classroom with children, I have found my new passion in assisting adults with the career of teaching.

Why are you passionate about this program? 

I am passionate about assisting teachers in their careers. PIIT is such an amazing program, becasue we have educators coming to our program from so many different backgrounds and previous experiences.  All of the candidates took their own unique path to find us, but what they all have in common is a passion for teaching and connecting with students.  I see the dedication and focus in these individuals that come into our program.  They truly want to make a difference in the lives of children.  We simply find a way to guide them by setting individual goals and then helping them establish a plan to achieve growth.  

As a coach, what do you feel is special about this program?

PIIT offers a personal connection to its candidates.  We see each candidate as an individual.  We meet with each candidate prior to starting within our program - we want to hear their stories, we want to know what guided them to us, how they got here, and what they want to accomplish through our program.  We want to help each candidate achieve their goals, pairing each candidate with a coach along the way. We have Live Sessions through Zoom with each of our courses, to create a sense of community for our candidates.  They can collaborate, discuss, share, engage, and interact with one another throughout the program. I think these things are game changers! 

I am excited to be a coach with Professional Innovators In Teaching!  I have been in education for 10 years. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan-Flint, as well as my Master’s degree in Elementary Mathematics.  I am certified in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood ZS endorsement.  I have taught from Kindergarten to 3rd grade.  I was a lead coach for two years in Flint and am currently the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction/Academic Coach in Bay City.  When I am not busy at work I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, binge watching shows, playing video games, and golfing.

I began my teaching career in 1993, and have since served as a K-8 teacher of various subjects, School Improvement Chair, Data and Assessment Coordinator, PLC Leader, Reading Specialist and RtI Supervisor, Data Coach, Instructional Specialist, Educational Consultant, Curriculum Director, Assistant Principal, Principal and Superintendent. I currently serves as CEO of High Performing School Services Inc, a Comprehensive Educational Service Provider, which focuses on providing high quality professional development, and focused strategies for school improvement. My continued professional focus is to provide performance management support to school staff and leadership in the areas of: Aligned and Rigorous Curriculum, Effective Instructional Practices, Use of Assessment Data, Shared Leadership and Collaboration, Culture Focused on Student Achievement, Professional Learning Communities and more. When not working, I enjoy gardening, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family!

Why are you passionate about this program?

My role in Professional Innovators in Teaching (PIIT) is Instructional Coach/Mentor/Facilitator. I am also an Independent Educational Consultant, where I directly support and work with leaders, teachers, schools, and universities.

As a little girl, I would return home from school and teach my stuffed animals (that I lined up on my bed 😊) the lessons I learned that day. From that day forward, I continued my love of learning and it is where my passion for teaching/helping others began. Fun fact: I am a dual citizen. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

I earned my BA in Liberal Studies, my MA in Education with a supplement in Education Administration, and later my Ed.S degree. I am also a credentialed teacher and credentialed administrator in California and Michigan.

As a coach, I am here to teach, facilitate, support, guide, observe, give feedback and be a sounding board!

I am Sara Egloff and I am new to being a coach with Professional Innovators in Teaching.  I have been married for 23 years and am fully in the stage of being a mom to teens.  My favorite season is fall, but I love sitting on my porch in the summertime either working or reading.  This is my 20th year and my 19th year being a reading interventionist.  I spent one year teaching a 5th/6th grade class, but intevention is where my heart is.  Over the years I have worked as a mentor teacher in my school.  This past year I have been part of the Early Literacy Network in our district and have been able to share ideas with other literacy leaders in the community, as well as bring back information and strategies for our own teachers.  I'm excited to work this year with new teachers and help coach them through their first years of teaching.

MISHA STREDRICK is an educator, speaker, and author, who strives to continue her work in the areas of purposeful living, building leadership capacity, enhancing social-emotional skills, and advocating for underserved communities. She began her educational career as a teacher and has served the last fifteen years as an instructional coach, curriculum leader, school turnaround principal, principal mentor, director of achievement, leadership coach, learning specialist, and regional manager of teacher development. Honored for her work in urban schools, Misha has been named Principal of the Year by the Ohio Association of Black School Educators, published in the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ magazine, Principal Leadership, and nominated for the Principal Heart of the Schools Award in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Misha is committed to advocating for marginalized communities, helping others identify their purpose, and building their leadership capacity through holistic instructional coaching. She desires to set the world on fire for living intentionally, while still enjoying spa days, laughter, and the occasional pineapple soda or two.

I am excited to be a new PIIT coach! I have been in education since becoming a certified teacher in 2003. Most of my educational career was spent as a second-grade classroom teacher, but I have also had the pleasure of teaching first and fifth-grade students before moving into an administrative role. Coaching teachers is something that I have always enjoyed doing throughout my career.
My husband and I have a son and daughter in high school. Our son plays varsity football, so I will soon be spending many Friday nights in the stands cheering for his team. Each week, I will cross my fingers that it isn’t too hot, too cold, or raining on us. I can’t forget to mention our Labradoodle, Rosie. We are one of the many families that ended up with a dog during the pandemic. Now that she is part of our family, we can’t imagine life without her.

I have been in the education world for about 10 years now with most of my experience taking place in the classrooms in grades 2nd-5th. My biggest dream is to live in a world where teaching is a career that is widely respected and honored for the art it truly is. More importantly than that, I want to help encourage teachers to be the most highly effective and joyful versions of themselves because I truly believe happy teachers = happy & successful students. I am so excited to work with you all.

Nick attended Western Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University earning his degrees, however, his journey in special education started in high school serving as a mentor for students with disabilities.  Nick has years of experience teaching self contained classes (at the intermediate, secondary, and adult age levels) as well as occupying roles as a resource teacher prior to moving to his leadership position.  He recently moved to the Brighton area with his family, and is looking forward to the start of a new school year.  Nick, and his wife Jessica, have two children (ages 5 and 2) and they are both excited for their son to enter kindergarten this fall.

My name is Nicole Tuinstra and I am one of the coaches in the Professional Innovators in Teaching (PIIT) program.  To give you a little background of myself:

I graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2008 with a Bachelor's in Group Social Studies and a minor in Elementary Education. My first job was as a special education paraprofessional, and that solidified my decision to go back to school for my Master's in Special Education. I graduated in 2017 from GVSU with my Master's in Special Education with an emphasis on Cognitive Impairments and Learning Disabilities. In the summer of 2021, I went back to GVSU for my Certificate in Special Education Leadership and am expected to graduate in April.

I taught Elementary Special Education at West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science from August 2012-August 2019. In August 2019, I moved to the Central Office for Choice Schools Associates as a Special Education Coordinator and in 2021 I became a Special Education Supervisor.

 I have been married to my husband, Kevin, for 15 years and we have 2 children. Lily is 12 and is a competition gymnast and Emma is 8 and loves cheerleading. We live in Jenison, MI which is halfway between Grand Rapids and Lake Michigan.

Sarah VanderBaan started with Choice as the Special Education Supervisor and is now the Senior Director of Specially Designed Instruction and Student Services. Previously, Sarah was at National Heritage Academies as a middle school Resource Program Teacher and West Michigan Special Education Content Leader. She also worked for Benton Harbor Area Schools and Wyoming Public Schools. Her teaching experience includes early childhood through high school general education and special education. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College in Learning Disabilities and Early Childhood Education. Sarah received her Master’s degree in Specific Learning Disabilities from Grand Valley State University. Sarah also received her Educational Leadership-Special Education Administrator endorsement from Grand Valley State University. Sarah lived in Hong Kong for three years and taught at The American School there. She has traveled all over Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Free time for Sarah includes traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family relaxing in Northern Michigan. West Michigan is where Sarah calls home. Volunteering is important to Sarah as she serves on the Executive Board of Family Hope Foundation. Sarah is excited to work with the PIIT students! 

I graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Elementary Education and later got my Master’s degree in Instructional Design. I’ve taught in K-3 classrooms but kindergarten truly has my heart and I’m gearing up for a new school year with an amazing group of new learners. As long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about education and believe that learning is a lifelong, collaborative, and joyful endeavor!

Despite all of my intentions to escape Michigan winters, I fell in love with Ann Arbor and made my home here with my dog, Viva.

I truly believe that we are better together, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing in community to share the joy of learning with students!