Daniel Scibienski
Daniel Scibienski is the founder of ELL Consulting. He has been involved in English language education for over 14 years as a teacher, trainer, and program administrator. He holds a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Rutgers University and an MA in TESOL from New York University.
Daniel currently works as an ESL teacher at John Witherspoon Middle School in Princeton, NJ where he teaches students in grades 6-8 and works on the academic intervention planning team. He recently made the change from the Greater Brunswick Charter School where taught ELLs K-8 and acted the as team leader for the ESL/dual language department. In addition, he organized educational programs such as small business training, nutrition, and language classes for adults in the school community.
As the first certified ESL teacher hired at the charter school, he was instrumental in advocating and adapting the program to meet shifting demographics. In his years at GBCS, he grew the program from an English Language Services program to one that now includes ESL instruction with bilingual support and four grades of dual language instruction at the elementary level. He continually assessed and restructured the program to accommodate a roster of ELLs which increased by 150% over a three year period.
Alongside these positions, Daniel works as a Master Trainer for Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey, where he conducts professional development workshops and creates teaching materials. He has conducted workshops for Literacy Volunteers of Middlesex County, The NJ Department of Labor, The South Plainfield Adult School, The New Brunswick Adult School, The Commission on Adult Basic Education, NJTESOL-NJBE, and the New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning. He is trained in SIOP and as a SIOP turn-key trainer. He currently serves on the NJ State Bilingual Advisory Committee.
Before his work at the charter school, Daniel worked as an instructor for Middlesex County Workforce Development where he taught basic reading skills, ESL, computer literacy and job skills to adults. He has also taught various semesters as an adjunct instructor for Middlesex County College and Union County College.
From 2002 to 2003, Daniel taught English at a binational education center in Cuenca, Ecuador where he also worked as a language interpreter for journalists from the Hartford Courant pursuing stories about immigration's effects on transnational families.
In 2005, Daniel was voted Adult Educator of the Year by the NJ Association for Lifelong Learning.
In 2009, he was recognized with a NJ Governor's Teacher Award.
Daniel currently works as an ESL teacher at John Witherspoon Middle School in Princeton, NJ where he teaches students in grades 6-8 and works on the academic intervention planning team. He recently made the change from the Greater Brunswick Charter School where taught ELLs K-8 and acted the as team leader for the ESL/dual language department. In addition, he organized educational programs such as small business training, nutrition, and language classes for adults in the school community.
As the first certified ESL teacher hired at the charter school, he was instrumental in advocating and adapting the program to meet shifting demographics. In his years at GBCS, he grew the program from an English Language Services program to one that now includes ESL instruction with bilingual support and four grades of dual language instruction at the elementary level. He continually assessed and restructured the program to accommodate a roster of ELLs which increased by 150% over a three year period.
Alongside these positions, Daniel works as a Master Trainer for Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey, where he conducts professional development workshops and creates teaching materials. He has conducted workshops for Literacy Volunteers of Middlesex County, The NJ Department of Labor, The South Plainfield Adult School, The New Brunswick Adult School, The Commission on Adult Basic Education, NJTESOL-NJBE, and the New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning. He is trained in SIOP and as a SIOP turn-key trainer. He currently serves on the NJ State Bilingual Advisory Committee.
Before his work at the charter school, Daniel worked as an instructor for Middlesex County Workforce Development where he taught basic reading skills, ESL, computer literacy and job skills to adults. He has also taught various semesters as an adjunct instructor for Middlesex County College and Union County College.
From 2002 to 2003, Daniel taught English at a binational education center in Cuenca, Ecuador where he also worked as a language interpreter for journalists from the Hartford Courant pursuing stories about immigration's effects on transnational families.
In 2005, Daniel was voted Adult Educator of the Year by the NJ Association for Lifelong Learning.
In 2009, he was recognized with a NJ Governor's Teacher Award.
DONNA GIL
Donna Gil is an accomplished retired educator with experience in teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language to diverse student populations, elementary through adult school. She has been recognized as an innovative teacher able to provide differentiated instruction at a variety of academic levels.
In her 37 years as a New Jersey educator, Donna developed excellent relationships with students, parents, colleagues and administrators. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Italian from Montclair University, Donna started out as a teacher of high school Spanish in West Essex High School, followed by teaching positions in Hackettstown High School, then in
the Edison and Hopewell Valley School Districts. She completed her Master’s Degree in Language Education, with a specialization in English as a Second Language, at Rutgers University. Her career took a turn at this point, as she
began teaching middle school in the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District.
There she taught a variety of subjects including all levels of ELL, Spanish Bilingual, Spanish for the Mentally-Challenged, American History for ELLs and in-class support in science and social studies. During many of those years, she also taught ELL in adult education programs.
Donna’s academic involvement increased during those years, as she assisted in registration, managed assessment and placement for all incoming students and designed curricula for all levels of ELLs and for Spanish. She was selected to serve as a mentor to several new teachers of Spanish and of ELLs. In addition to her teaching duties, Donna presented workshops for the NJ Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (NJ-TESOL) and for the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey. During her career, Donna received the New Jersey Teachers Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and was
named Teacher of the Year by Princeton YMCA.
Several years ago Donna began working part-time as an Item Writer for Educational Testing Services in Princeton. In that role, she has written test items for state (Praxis), national and international assessments for teachers seeking certification in ELL. With ETS, she has also served as a consultant on various panels and teacher focus groups related to best practices in ELL education.
Presently, Donna remains involved in education through her work with ETS and maintains contact with young people through private tutoring. She is eager to dedicate her time and share her knowledge and experience to raise awareness among new teachers of the distinct needs of the ELL population.
Donna Gil is an accomplished retired educator with experience in teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language to diverse student populations, elementary through adult school. She has been recognized as an innovative teacher able to provide differentiated instruction at a variety of academic levels.
In her 37 years as a New Jersey educator, Donna developed excellent relationships with students, parents, colleagues and administrators. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Italian from Montclair University, Donna started out as a teacher of high school Spanish in West Essex High School, followed by teaching positions in Hackettstown High School, then in
the Edison and Hopewell Valley School Districts. She completed her Master’s Degree in Language Education, with a specialization in English as a Second Language, at Rutgers University. Her career took a turn at this point, as she
began teaching middle school in the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District.
There she taught a variety of subjects including all levels of ELL, Spanish Bilingual, Spanish for the Mentally-Challenged, American History for ELLs and in-class support in science and social studies. During many of those years, she also taught ELL in adult education programs.
Donna’s academic involvement increased during those years, as she assisted in registration, managed assessment and placement for all incoming students and designed curricula for all levels of ELLs and for Spanish. She was selected to serve as a mentor to several new teachers of Spanish and of ELLs. In addition to her teaching duties, Donna presented workshops for the NJ Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (NJ-TESOL) and for the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey. During her career, Donna received the New Jersey Teachers Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and was
named Teacher of the Year by Princeton YMCA.
Several years ago Donna began working part-time as an Item Writer for Educational Testing Services in Princeton. In that role, she has written test items for state (Praxis), national and international assessments for teachers seeking certification in ELL. With ETS, she has also served as a consultant on various panels and teacher focus groups related to best practices in ELL education.
Presently, Donna remains involved in education through her work with ETS and maintains contact with young people through private tutoring. She is eager to dedicate her time and share her knowledge and experience to raise awareness among new teachers of the distinct needs of the ELL population.
KIM GUCCIONE
Currently, Kimberly Finch is an ESL teacher at Keyport Central School in Keyport, New Jersey. Her classes range from young learners in Kindergarten and Grade 1 to middle schoolers in Grades 6 through 8. Due to an ever-changing population, her course load changes annually, and pushes her to continue to grow and learn as an ESL educator.
Previously, Kimberly was employed with William C. McGinnis Middle School in Perth Amboy. During her tenure with Perth Amboy, she collaborated with colleagues to reorganize the structure of the ESL program as well as to write new curricula for three grade levels, each composed of three different linguistic levels. She also served as chairperson as the Family Night Committee through which she cooperated with the Home/School Liaison to organize events that aimed to encourage all parents to participate in their child’s education. Furthermore, Kimberly was responsible for scheduling the annual ACCESS test for the McGinnis ELL population.
In terms of education, Kimberly attended the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University and received her Ed.M. in Language Education. During this time, she participated in the first cohort of the Urban Teaching Fellows, a program aimed to empower students in urban settings through Youth in Participatory Action Research (YPAR). She also studied Spanish extensively through courses in literature, linguistics, and translation/interpretation.
Before enrolling in Rutgers, Kimberly traveled to China in order to make sure that teaching was the correct profession for her. She taught for two years in various provinces throughout the country, and gained valuable experience through working and living in a foreign culture. She also learned conversational Mandarin!
Kimberly is excited to collaborate with other ESL educators in order to offer suggestions based on years of experience and travel, and to gain insight through cooperating with colleagues in other districts. Working as an ESL teacher often feels like living on an island of one, and she is interested in expanding her professional network.
Currently, Kimberly Finch is an ESL teacher at Keyport Central School in Keyport, New Jersey. Her classes range from young learners in Kindergarten and Grade 1 to middle schoolers in Grades 6 through 8. Due to an ever-changing population, her course load changes annually, and pushes her to continue to grow and learn as an ESL educator.
Previously, Kimberly was employed with William C. McGinnis Middle School in Perth Amboy. During her tenure with Perth Amboy, she collaborated with colleagues to reorganize the structure of the ESL program as well as to write new curricula for three grade levels, each composed of three different linguistic levels. She also served as chairperson as the Family Night Committee through which she cooperated with the Home/School Liaison to organize events that aimed to encourage all parents to participate in their child’s education. Furthermore, Kimberly was responsible for scheduling the annual ACCESS test for the McGinnis ELL population.
In terms of education, Kimberly attended the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University and received her Ed.M. in Language Education. During this time, she participated in the first cohort of the Urban Teaching Fellows, a program aimed to empower students in urban settings through Youth in Participatory Action Research (YPAR). She also studied Spanish extensively through courses in literature, linguistics, and translation/interpretation.
Before enrolling in Rutgers, Kimberly traveled to China in order to make sure that teaching was the correct profession for her. She taught for two years in various provinces throughout the country, and gained valuable experience through working and living in a foreign culture. She also learned conversational Mandarin!
Kimberly is excited to collaborate with other ESL educators in order to offer suggestions based on years of experience and travel, and to gain insight through cooperating with colleagues in other districts. Working as an ESL teacher often feels like living on an island of one, and she is interested in expanding her professional network.
