The Instructional Support Program at St. Thomas More School

Program Overview

St. Thomas More has a comprehensive instructional support program that provides both enrichment and support activities. Our instructional support team uses a variety of student assessments to identify needs and plan intervention strategies. Each year we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the IOWA results to identify students whose performance indicates that they may be in need of instructional support. The IOWA results are evaluated in concert with other measures of student performance such as: Dibels, classroom grades and individual teacher evaluations. Based on this analysis, our instructional support teachers can provide a variety of instructional support activities in concert with the classroom teachers and the students’ parents. Parents are a key element in the success of learning interventions, and they will be involved in the discussions concerning any out-of-class support. The goal of our instructional support team is to provide the necessary interventions, strategies and challenges so that each student has the opportunity to become the best version of himself/herself here at STM.

Who is included in our Instructional Support Team?

Mrs. Janelle Rush, MEd., our program director, has been an educator in both the private and public sectors since 1994. Janelle is certified in Special Education, Elementary Education and Secondary English. She earned her Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 2000 and her Supervisory Certificate in Special Education in 2007.  She joined the STM family in 2008, and has a great love for learning and teaching.  She enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks, reading a good book and camping (and all that goes with it!).

Mrs. Michele Rieder, B.S., is our full time instructional support teacher for Kindergarten. Michele received her Bachelors of Science degree in 1986.  She began as an educator in the Allentown Diocese in 1987, teaching a variety of grades from Kindergarten to fourth grade. She enjoys helping children learn in small group and individual settings. Mrs. Rieder enjoys reading, gardening, and swimming.

Mrs. Courtney Ridley, B.S., our full time instructional support teacher for first grade, has been working here at St. Thomas More since 2004. Courtney attended the University of Connecticut and is certified in Elementary Education.  She is presently enrolled in a Reading Specialist Certification and Masters of Education program through Cabrini College. Courtney, a former STM student, strives to help all students meet their potential in school. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking, biking, taking long walks with her dog, and reading a good book.

Mrs. LuAnne Frank, MEd., is our full time instructional support teacher for grades two and three.  She has taught at STM since 2002.  LuAnne received her Master's degree in Elementary Education in 2008 and is currently pursuing her Reading Specialist Certification.  Mrs. Frank enjoys working with children in all grades, especially in reading.  In her free time she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, reading, cooking, and going to concerts.

Ms. Angie Hock, B.S.,  teaches our Jr. High Language Arts II class in addition to providing instructional support to grades 6-8.  Angie is certified in Elementary Education and began teaching at STM in 2008.  She is presently enrolled in a Reading Specialist Certificate and Masters of Education program.  Her three children followed in her footsteps as present and former students of STM.  She has been a soccer coach for STM Soccer Club since 2001.  She enjoys spending time with her large family, watching movies, reading-for-fun and knitting crafts to keep her busy.

Mrs. Cathy Kinsella, Ed.M., is our part-time instructional support teacher for grade five and coordinates our enrichment activities for grades 2-6.  Cathy has taught at St Thomas More since 2000 and has three children who all attended STM and CCHS.  Cathy earned her Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Buffalo in 1988.  She loves traveling to visit her family, going for long walks with her dog, bike riding at the shore, camping and reading.

Sister Melita, a Bernadine Franciscan Sister, formerly a first grade teacher for ten years, continues in the teaching ministry as an instructional support teacher in the area of enrichment for Kindergarten and first grade.  She is confident that the innocence and openness of the young children enriches her life and brings a smile to her daily.

Mrs. Christine Rander, MEd., teaches fifth grade math and language arts in addition to providing instructional support to grade four.  She has eight years of experience as an educator and began teaching at St. Thomas More School in 2010.  Mrs. Rander serves on the STM School Board as Secretary.  She has three children who are students at STM School.  Mrs. Rander enjoys many activities with her family including playing games, making crafts, swimming, watching favorite movies and spending time at the lake. 

Mrs. Melissa Ulicny, MEd., has been a teacher since 1998.  She received a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from Penn State University and a Masters of Education in Technology K-12 from DeSales University.  Mrs. Ulichny has taught grades five through twelve as well as college courses at DeSales and Cedar Crest College.  She loves to "see the light bulb go on" in students' minds as they are learning!  In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and simply being outside.

Sister Patricia Luss is our Director of Student Services and Guidance Support.  She was Vice Principal at STM for five years and now serves in the Guidance Department.  Previous to her ministry at STM, she was a principal in several schools for a total of 20 years.  She also has enjoyed teaching at the Intermediate, Jr. High and high school levels.  Sister takes great pleasure in interacting with students and encouraging them to be the best persons they can become.  In her free time, she likes to play Scrabble, read, listen to music, take long walks, and is an ardent Phillies fan!!

Mrs. Susan Perun, M.S., is a certified school counselor who has been at STM since 2004. She has enjoyed working with children in a variety of capacities for over 20 years. She even practices on her own five children. In her free time, Susan plays Scrabble, reads, and spends time with her boys. 

 

Our team works collaboratively with administrators and teachers to “level the playing field” for all students.  We treat each student as an individual and work hard to accommodate and challenge all individuals here at STM always keeping in mind that