English Code Crackers: the Developers
Marn Frank, MEd, served as the Literacy & STAR (STudent Achievement in Reading) Coordinator for ATLAS until 2021. Over a span of nearly 40 years, she worked as an elementary teacher, special education teacher, adult basic education (ABE) teacher/coordinator, learning disabilities specialist, and trainer in evidence-based reading instruction for adults. Her passion for helping ABE teachers and students ‘crack the code’ was been inspired by many wonderful professional and personal experiences across the years.
Marn is now retired.
Kristin Klas, M.Ed., is an ABE instructor in St. Paul, MN. They have over 10 years of experience teaching English as a second language. Kris has taught literacy level students for almost 9 years and has focused their studies and professional development on teaching adult English language learners with limited formal education. Kris believes multisensory instruction makes literacy achievable and fun!
Student practice page: teacherkristin.weebly.com
Numeracy for literacy level learners: numeracyforlife.weebly.com
At the time of the creation of this resource, Kristin Perry was an intensive ELL instructor at Hmong American Partnership in St. Paul, MN. She came into ESL after a career in photography and has taught language, literacy and numeracy to beginning learners. She has a TEFL through Hamline University and is also certified in research-based reading strategies through the Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota. She has been blown away by the progress she’s seen in struggling readers who have been introduced to the type of instruction shown on this site and is thrilled to share the excitement with colleagues.
Kristin balances out the logical/research focused side of herself with fine art photography, for a glimpse into the creative side of Kristin: presenttobeauty.com
Patsy Egan, PhD, is the Director of ATLAS, housed in the Hamline University School of Education & Leadership. She holds a BA in Russian Language from the University of Nebraska, as well as an MA in English as a Second Language and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction (Second Languages & Cultures) from the University of Minnesota. She has taught adults since 1994, working extensively with adult immigrants and refugees in Nebraska and Minnesota.
Patsy’s teaching and research focuses on literacy development and teacher education for adult learners, including Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) – and particularly those learners with limited literacy in their first languages. How to teach reading to such learners, and how to prepare their teachers for excellent literacy instruction, has always captured her attention. She was delighted to collaborate with local classroom teachers Kristin Perry and Krist Klas in ‘cracking the code’ for English language learners.
ATLAS website: atlasabe.org/about/staff/patsy-egan