JoEllen McCarthy, an educator for 20+ years, is a lifelong learner and literacy specialist who spends her days teaching and learning alongside students, teachers and administrators to support literacy instruction, as well as student-centered collaborative coaching cycles. As The Educator Collaborative's Book Ambassador, she spreads her enthusiasm for literature through an exploration of mentor texts that emphasize reading and writing connections through conversations about practices that contribute to caring, responsive, classroom communities.

A frequent presenter at regional and national conferences, JoEllen works hands-on in schools and districts to impact professional literacy communities with research and standards-aligned best practices that recognize students as our most important aspect of the curriculum. She is passionate about the heart work of teaching and works to emphasize reading and writing connections, character education, responsive classrooms, and culturally responsive teaching, while championing the power of read alouds and choice to affect independent readers, writers and thinkers. JoEllen facilitates pedagogy with differentiation within the workshop model as a method and mindset for reaching all learners.

JoEllen holds degrees from Loyola, Maryland, NYU, and an administrative degree specializing in staff development from Hofstra. She currently serves as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, and consultant for the organization she founded, Always Learning. In her role as a consultant for The Educator Collaborative, JoEllen is a part of a think tank of nationally known thought leaders who provide innovative professional development opportunities through online study series, webinars, on site speaking engagements, and site based professional development. She can be found spreading #booklove and #PDlove by tweeting daily about reading, writing and learning, sharing literacy snapshots, book titles and more at @JoEllenMcCarthy.