Staff
Bios
Noma
Lemoine, Ph.D.
Director
Noma LeMoine is a nationally recognized
expert on issues of language variation and learning in African American
and other students for whom Standard English is not native. She has
written and spoken extensively on the topic and is a highly sought-after
consultant to colleges, universities, and school districts nationwide.
Dr. LeMoine has been deeply involved in education for over 25 years.
She has served over ten years as adjunct professor at several California
universities and colleges. Other experiences include serving as a Language
and Speech Consultant to Los Angeles based Headstart programs, as a
classroom teacher and “Mentor” teacher, and a Language and
Speech Diagnostic Specialists. Dr. LeMoines’ administrative experience
spans 20 years. She served three years as Principal and Director of
Operations of the NASA funded Saturday Academy for Student Advancement
in Math, Science and Communications, a proposal she wrote and submitted
to NASA and was awarded over $600,000 to implement. She served as the
Coordinating Administrator of the District’s Speech, Language
and Aphasia Programs, and six years as program specialist/ administrator,
supervising Speech/Language, and Aphasia teachers in the West San Fernando
Valley. Dr. LeMoine served two years as Commissioner on Education for
the California Speech, Language and Hearing Association, two years on
the Board of Directors of the National Black Association for Speech,
Language and Hearing, and as the founding president of its Southern
California Affiliate, and she currently serves as a member of the National
Citizen’s Commission on African American Education, an arm of
the Congressional Black Caucus Education Brain Trust.
Dr. LeMoine is currently the Director of the Los Angeles Unified School
District’s ACADEMIC ENGLISH MASTERY AND CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT
GAP BRANCH. In that role, she oversees the district-wide Closing the
Achievement Gap Initiative to improve educational outcomes for under-achieving
students. She also directs the District’s Academic English Mastery
program, which supports teachers and paraeducators in effectively incorporating
culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy into instructional
practice. Under Dr. LeMoines’ visionary leadership the Academic
English Mastery Program (AEMP) has become a national model for addressing
the language, literacy, and learning needs of Standard English Learners.
The Program, previously known as the Language Development Program for
African American Students, has been featured on 60 Minutes, in periodicals
including Education Week and Teacher Magazine, and has been lauded by
the linguistic community as the exemplary instructional model for addressing
the needs of students for whom Standard English is not native.
Dr. LeMoine has received many professional honors including, the 1988,
California Speech, Language and Hearing Association, District 6, “OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD,” and the “DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD”
from the Southern California Affiliate of the National Black Association
for Speech, Language, and Hearing (1990). She was honored with the LOIS
V. DOUGLASS, “DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD” from the Department
of Communication Disorders at California State University, Los Angeles
in 1991 and in April of 1992, Dr. LeMoine was named FELLOW of the California
Speech Language and Hearing Association, one of the organization’s
highest honors. In June of 1995, Dr. LeMoine received the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund “BLACK WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” and in 1997,
Mount St. Mary’s College bestowed on Dr. LeMoine the “CULTURAL
FLUENCY AWARD” in recognition of outstanding contributions to
the development of cross-cultural understanding in the Los Angeles Community.
Dr. LeMoine received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pepperdine University
in Speech, Language, and Hearing, and holds two Master of Arts degrees,
one in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology from California State
University at Los Angeles, and a second in Education from Pepperdine
University. She holds a PhD in Education with a specialization in Language,
Literacy, and Learning from the University of Southern California. Dr.
LeMoines’ work has taken her on educational exchanges to Africa,
India, and the Caribbean.
Sharroky
Hollie, Ph.D.
Professional Development Coordinator
Dr.
Sharroky Hollie has served in the field of education for the past 13
years. His experience in teaching spans elementary, to secondary, to
the university level. As a classroom teacher Sharroky taught English/Language
Arts at Charles Drew Middle School near Watts, where he served as chair
of the English Department, and at Francis Polytechnic High School in
Arleta. He also taught fourth grade. Currently Sharroky educates teachers
who are preparing to work in undeserved schools. On the university level,
Dr. Hollie teaches at Cal State Dominguez Hills. His courses include
classroom management, methodology, and reading for secondary teachers.
At the K-12 level, Sharroky currently serves as Program Coordinator
of the Academic English Mastery Program (AEMP), a program that supports
teachers in culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy and serves
as the theoretical basis for the Culture and Language Academy of Success,
a charter school he envisioned. He writes curriculum, designs and conducts
professional development, and provides teachers direct support throughout
Los Angeles for AEMP. Dr. Hollie’s research interests are the
language and literacy development for Standard English Learners, culturally
responsive teaching, professional development design, and teacher development.
He has been invited to present his research for organizations, such
as the International Reading Association, the New Teacher Center, and
other educational institutions in California and throughout the nation.
In the past two years, he served as a literacy consultant for the California
Department of Education. His work has been published in journals such
as English Journal and Academic Exchange Quarterly.
T.R.
Porter, Ed.D.
Program Coordinator
T.R. Porter was
born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She completed her elementary and high
school education in Michigan but traveled to Huntsville, Alabama
to attend her family’s alma mater, Oakwood College, a small
Black private college that was founded in the early 1800s to address
the spiritual as well as academic needs of African Americans. Concurrently
enrolled at Oakwood College and Alabama A&M University, T.R.
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major emphasis in Speech
Pathology and Mental Retardation, garnering magna cum laude distinction
upon graduation. Later, she traveled to Birmingham, Alabama where
she completed her Master of Arts degree in Learning Disabilities
with a major emphasis in Reading Correction, again garnering magna
cum laude distinction. In 1978, she arrived in California after being
accepted into the doctoral program at the University of California,
Riverside campus. While in the program, she transferred to the School
of Administration where she earned her Administrative Credential.
Encouraged by mentors who were deeply committed to early childhood
education as the most potent intervention, T.R. became involved in
the renowned Pacific Oaks early childhood movement and subsequently
joined several Pacific Oaks devotees in completing an Ed.D degree,
specifically designed for members of this burgeoning movement, in
Early Childhood Development from Nova University. T.R. continued her
interests in early childhood intervention by focusing her energies
particularly on minority special needs preschoolers and the needs
of their families.
In association with agencies such as ACYFS (the Association of Child, Youth
and Family Services) and NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young
Children) she served on advisory boards at the local, state and federal levels,
participating in program/curriculum development, evaluation and accreditation.
As an education practitioner, she has taught in private as well as public school.
She has been a regular education teacher for grades 6-8 and in special education;
she has been a special day class teacher, a resource specialist, a speech correction
teacher, and a learning disabilities teacher consultant. She has teaching experience
at every grade level (K-12). Her total years of education experience spans
25 years. T.R. has also worked extensively with Spanish speaking populations
and has district-recognized speaking proficiency in Spanish.
At the adult level, T.R. has taught classes for Loma Linda University, Cerritos
Community College, and the LAUSD Adult Education Program. As a administrator,
T.R. has served as Program Assistant for the Riverside County Superintendent
of Schools’ Head Start/State Preschool program and as the
Program Administrator for Support Services with the Long Beach Unified School
District.
She has seven years of administrative experience. T.R. presently serves in
an administrative role as Coordinator to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s
Academic English Mastery Program (AEMP). She assists the program director with
coordination of the operational and instructional components of the Academic
English Mastery Program, writes curriculum, designs and conducts professional
development and provides teacher support.
Sidonie
Smith, Ph.D.
Coordinating Specialist
Dr. Smith is committed to educational reform and to meeting the psychological,
sociological, spiritual and educational needs of youth who are culturally
marginalized. She has worked with many cultures and ethnic groups. A
particular interest is Standard English Learners (SELs), a language
different population often identified as “English Only”.
Sidonie participated in early research investigations of “African
American Language” in Boston, Massachusetts with Dr. Orlando Taylor.
A strong proponent of the belief that pedagogy must respond to the needs
of the learner, brings Dr. Smith to The Los Angeles Unified School District’s
(LAUSD) Academic English Mastery Program (AEMP), Closing the Achievement
Gap Branch.
Sidonie has been administratively involved in speech-language pathology,
education and professional development training for the past 35 years,
working in public and private and in the non-profit and for profit corporate
sector. The programs Sidonie has developed and conducted to empower
parents in their role on the educational team include: Parents as Tutors,
Mindworks Aerobics, and Parents as Literacy Coaches. Her educational
administrative experience includes having served as specialist, assistant
program director, and principal. She was responsible for coordinating
District-wide professional development for the Speech and Language Program
for LAUSD, in addition to managing and supervising the speech-language
therapy program in three local districts.
Instructionally, Sidonie has taught special and general education learners
from pre-kindergarten to adults, and has served as a speech–language
specialist. She is actively involved in Youth For Positive Change, a
not for profit association contracted with LAUSD based in Verdugo Hills
High School. Here, she designs and conducts workshops for middle and
high school students, parents teachers and staff, addressing “The
Principles of Learning”, communication in the classroom, peer
mediation, behavior modification, and student retention. She is the
recipient of the Quest Award, for integrity and excellence in education.
As a celebrated public speaker and trainer her workshops have been presented
throughout the State.
Dr. Smith is an ordained minister and founder of In the Spirit Ministries,
The Nehemiah Task Force Urban Outreach. She is published in the areas
of instruction, educational administration, and ministry. Her formal
educational training has been in speech-language pathology, administration,
education, and theology at Miami University, Kent State University,
National University and Harvest Bible University.
Sidonie currently serves as Coordinating Specialist for The Los Angeles
Unified School District Academic English Mastery Program (AEMP). Her
expertise is utilized designing and conducting professional development,
and in every aspect of the operational and instructional components
of the program, supporting parent, teachers, staff and administrator
participation in the conversation of reform.
Carlos
C. Barrón
Instructional Specialist
Carlos
C. Barrón was born and raised in East Los Angles California
and attended both public and parochial schools in the greater Los
Angeles County. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy
and Mexican American Studies, at California State University, at
Los Angeles, and his teaching credential from the University of Southern
California. He holds a masters degree in education and is currently
enrolled in the Education Leadership, Administration and Policy doctoral
program at Pepperdine University. Carlos has been employed by the
Los Angles Unified School District since 1972 and has served in the
capacity of Elementary, Secondary and Adult Education teacher and
as the Past Director of the Mexican American Education Commission.
Carlos has served his community and profession as a Board Member to the Los
Angles County Board of Education and has taught in California State University
Schools of Education and private post secondary institutions throughout Southern
California.
Mr. Barrón’s area of expertise lies in the education of Mexican
American/ Latino students in the public school institutions of California.
His advocacy reaches from the human and civil rights of disenfranchised ethnic
populations to their esthetic and social contributions to the greater American
culture. Carlos is the recipient of many honors from the City of Los Angles,
State of California, and the National Education Association. He served as President
of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and was just recently reappointed
to his 14th year as arts commissioner.
Mr. Barrón presently serves in an administrative role as Instructional
Specialist to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Academic English
Mastery Program (AEMP) with a specialty in the culture and language of Mexican
American and Native American students. He conducts research, develops Instructional
Seminars for professional development, and coordinates the implementation of
the AEMP for Standard English Learners in four Local Districts within the Los
Angeles Unified School District.
Aminika
M. Readeux
Instructional Specialist
Aminika M. Readeux
has served in the field of education for fifteen years. She began
her career as a Teacher Assistant with the Long Beach Unified School
District, and later served as an elementary and high school teacher
for the Compton Unified School District. In 1996 she joined the Los
Angeles Unified School District as a middle school teacher and taught
at Edison Middle School and Curtis Middle School. Ms. Readeux also
served as an instructor for the Upward Bound Program at California
State University at Long Beach.
Ms. Readeux earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Language and Composition
from California State University Long Beach, and her Master of Arts Degree
in Education Administration, from California State University at Dominguez
Hills. She is currently a Doctoral candidate in Educational Administration
at the University of LaVerne.(ULV).
Ms. Readeux currently serves as an Instructional Specialist for the Los Angeles
Unified School District’s Academic English Mastery Program. In that capacity
she provides supervision and support for the instructional program in Local
District I as it relates to assuring equity and access to the core English
Language Arts and Literacy curriculums for Standard English Learners.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
AEMP PROGRAM CONTACT:
Noma LeMoine Ph.D., Director
(noma.lemoine@lausd.net)
Programs for Standard English Learners
Academic English Mastery Program
333 Beaudry, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Instructional Support Services, 25th Floor, Room-131
PHONE (213) 241-3340 FAX: (213) 241-8495
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