Susan Van Zant, an experienced educator, served as a Senior Educational Consultant for the Consortium of Reaching Excellence (CORE), and as the Southern California Regional Coach for the CALI Reads grant. Susan holds bachelor’s degree in history for California State University Long Beach, a master’s degree in curriculum development from Northern Arizona University and a doctorate with a specialization in educational leadership from Alliant University in San Diego. Susan taught reading prior to her appointment as a school principal.
As an informed elementary and middle school principal for 27 years in the Poway Unified School District, she worked with teachers to present well-defined reading and math programs, which led to increasingly high achievement scores. Four of the schools where she was principal were recognized as a California Distinguished School and three went on to be identified as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
Susan served as president of the California Elementary Principals and was the president of San Diego Association of School Administrators, (ACSA), and served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals (NAESP). Susan taught leadership courses for two universities in San Diego. In recognition for her achievements Dr. Van Zant was chosen to be a National Distinguished Principal, the California Educator of the Year, and was selected to be a Milken Educator Award recipient.
Upon her retirement from public school service Susan accepted a position as Senior Educational Consultant with the Consortium for Reaching Excellence in Education (CORE). In this capacity she enthusiastically worked with educators in urban, suburban, and rural school settings throughout the United States. Susan served as the District Implementation Advisor for the Anchorage School District, East Moline, Illinois, Upper Darby (South Philadelphia). Hanover Area School in Pennsylvania, the Atlanta Public School System as well as four Bureau of Indian Education schools located in North Dakota, New Mexico and Minnesota. Susan recently worked with the San Bernardino City Unified School District in California and the Stockton District reading coaches.
Susan also served as the Southern California Regional Coach for CALI Reads, a five-year grant administered by the Napa County Office of Education. In this capacity Susan worked with the Azusa, Anaheim and Moreno Valley school districts to implement grant components. Susan is currently the vice president of the California Association of School Administrators, Region 18
Susan is the author of Words for Academic Writing: Vocabulary Across the Curricula and E-Solution, an extension of the Six Minute Solution.
I am currently researching and piloting different approaches to meeting the needs of all students, especially those who are not currently meeting full academic and/or social success within the school setting. I welcome any ideas or suggestions that might help me design programs to meet the needs of these students.
2000 National Blue Ribbon Schools, Meadowbrook Middle School
1999 California Distinguished Schools, Meadowbrook Middle School
1997 California Distinguished Schools, Morning Creek Elementary School
1995 Award of Excellence, A Lamba Theata, Beta Beta Chapter
1994 National Blue Ribbon Schools, Morning Creek Elementary School
1990 National Blue Ribbon Schools, Pomerado Elementary School
1988 Distinguished Principal , US Department of Education & National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals
1987 California Distinguished Schools, Garden Road Elementary School
California Distinguished Schools, Morning Creek Elementary School
1982 United State International University, Ed.D. in Administration
1974 Northern Arizona University, M.A. in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction
1965 California State University - Long Beach, B.A.
Co-author, <i>Six-Minute Solution Plus</i>
Co-author, <i>Words for Academic Writing</i>
