ABOUT ME

I am a passionate champion of all teachers and advocate for equitable literacy instruction for all students. 

I spent a decade as a public school teacher in Texas, wearing many hats, from classroom teacher and reading interventionist to district literacy coach. 

Throughout those years, I refined my skills in creating assessments, analyzing student data to identify and target patterns and trends, and developing curricula responding to those results. I have worked with all stakeholders, including community members, families, and district leaders, to build a supportive and collaborative community around literacy practices that foster student achievement and engagement. 

As a coach, I learned the importance of job-embedded and continuous professional learning experiences for teachers grounded in their everyday practices and in their student data. Now, as a staff developer, I work to create learning experiences for teachers that build off their strengths and reflect their individual contexts. 

After earning my PhD, I spent three years in higher education, teaching undergraduate and graduate literacy courses. Despite the rewarding aspects of that position, I made the difficult decision to leave because my heart belonged in the field working side-by-side with teachers and their students. 

Ultimately, I strive to bring my expertise in literacy educational research to the teachers, schools, and districts I work with worldwide. I often highlight and celebrate the incredible teachers I work with through my social media accounts (@drmaciekerbs).

I attended the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), earning a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.Ed. in Language and Literacy. 

I also hold a PhD in Reading Education from Texas Woman's University, where I focused on emergent literacy, writing instruction, and teacher professional learning.

I have the following active certifications in Texas: 

Texas Classroom Teacher, Grades EC-6

Texas Master Reading Teacher, Grades EC-12

Texas Reading Specialist, Grades EC-12

Texas Gifted and Talented Supplemental, Grades EC-12

Texas English as a Second Language Supplemental, Grades EC-12