Instructional Support Services
The Instructional Support Services Department offers a wide variety of services and support to school districts including staff development, technical support for Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) initiatives, grant support, coordination of services, advisory councils and acquisition of resources.
Staff development is offered through workshops, courses, and online classes for Act 48 hours and credit. Workshops are held at the IU and on site in school districts and are generally customized to suit district needs and cover all topics within the areas of assessment, curriculum or instruction, continuous school improvement, as well as reading and math, school safety, behavior, transition, early intervention, autism, assistive technology, interagency coordination, induction programs for teachers, educational specialists, and principals, and Act 45 programs for administrators.
The ISS Department staff serves as a liaison between the Pennsylvania Department of Education and local school districts by maintaining constant communication with PDE; identifying latest initiatives, clarifying requirements for school districts and supporting districts' efforts to follow state and federal mandates.
The ISS Department seeks and secures grant funding from state, federal, and private foundations in order to offer districts services and programs to enhance learning opportunities for students. Recent awards have enabled the ISS Department to offer schools:
- 4Sight Benchmarks Assessments and training
- Robotics Programs
- Principals/Leadership Academy
- Math Resource Library
- Superintendents' Academy
- Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHs)
- Olweus Bullying Prevention
- Literacy and Math coordinators
- Keys2Work program
- My Career Journey curriculum
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) resources and training
- Data analysis software
To keep district administrators and teachers informed and knowledgeable about current educational issues and treads, ISS offers the following councils that meet regularly:
- Curriculum Coordinators Council
- Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
- Transition Councils in Fayette, Greene and Washington Counties
The ISS Department serves as a resource for districts by identifying and coordinating efforts to help districts form partnerships with other districts, agencies and individuals. Current partnerships include:
- Frick Art and Historical Center
- Susan Leddick, PKR, Inc.
- California University of Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh
- Washington and Jefferson College
- Duquesne University
- Catalyst Connection
- Carnegie Mellon University
Resources/Downloads
Our Staff
Jarol DeVoge
ISS Director
724-938-3241 ext. 234
Curriculum Specialists
James Dowler
Curriculum Design, Gifted, 4Sight, State Initiatives
724-938-3241 ext. 236
Mara Linaberger
Technology Integration, State Initiatives
724-938-3241 ext. 267
Su Verma
ESL, Paraprofessionals, State Initiatives
724-938-3241 ext. 268
Nancy Tsupros
STEM Center, Science Matters, State Initiatives
724-250-3330
Patricia Hazen
Public Relations and Resource Support Specialist
724-938-3241 ext. 235
Training and Consultation Initiatives
Noreen Fleming
Progress Monitoring, RtI, Math
724-938-3241 ext. 128
Marlene Kubina
Autism and Low Incidence, Assistive Technology
724-938-3241 ext. 115
Marilyn Nairn
Transition, Inclusive Practices
724-938-3241 ext. 410
Wendy Tiano
Progress Monitoring, RtI, Reading
724-938-3241 ext. 148
Renae Kotchman
Early Intervention and Autism
724-938-3241 ext. 105
Anita Walters
Interagency Coordination and Behavior
724-437-9525 ext. 701
Donna Whoric
Behavior
724-938-3241 ext. 214
Additional Staff
Barbara Lease
MSP Science Coordinator
412-394-4617
Keith A. Golebie
ISS Specialist
724-938-3241 ext. 250
Stevie Kline
Technology Integrator/Teacher Trainer
724-938-3241 ext. 259
