M. Angelo Rivera
M. Angelo Rivera’s presentations are highly interactive where teachers experience practical and useful strategies that can put to use immediately. His approach is to take the educational theory and put it into action. The processes of the skills and performance patterns of effective teaching
bring the products of factual information along for the students.
Angelo has 33 years of teaching experience. This provides the experience base to connect to teachers’ needs. He has over 23 years of teaching courses for Performance Learning Systems in Illinois and Indiana through Indiana Wesleyan University, Rockford College, and University of St Francis. In this time he has instructed over 5,000 teachers in 12 different courses. He has presented various professional development in-service programs in the areas of Student Responsibility, Classroom Management, Differentiated Instruction, Student-Centered Activities, Reading Comprehension, Learning Styles, Multiple Intelligences, Critical Thinking/Modes of Questioning.
Angelo’s goal includes motivating teachers to change their approach to become more student-centered. His enthusiasm, energy, and humor provide a basis to accomplish this goal.
What people are saying about M. Angelo Rivera:
"Angelo Rivera is an inspiring, energetic, and motivational educator. He possesses the ability to create a fun, relaxed environment, motivating one to become a better teacher. He models a plethora of strategies and ideas to utilize in one's classroom immediately. After taking 11 courses with him, I can say, without a doubt, he is a superior instructor!"
- Susan DeWitt, Chesterton, Indiana
"Seven of my eight PLS classes were instructed by Angelo Rivera. Each class was so highly motivating that I continued to select classes based on Angelo’s teaching style. He presents course material in an interactive learning environment.He interjects humor, encourages collaboration, and provides research to substantiate the material. He allows flexibility with assignment topics which encourages teachers to create practical lessons that they will use. The lessons I utilized from my PLS courses have provided some of my most successful teaching experiences. I have more creative teaching strategies in my repertoire because of the PLS classes I completed with Angelo Rivera."
- Linda Eleftheri, Valparaiso, Indiana
"Mr. Rivera presented at our kick off meeting to start the school year 2011-2012. His energy, passion, and enthusiasm, engaged my staff for almost a full four hours. He presented techniques that could be used immediately in the classroom. As a matter of fact the next day as I walked around to welcome students back, I heard the lessons being used that Angelo taught us the day before. We are excited to continue our work with Angelo for this entire school year. His experience, and material will move us in the right direction for differentiation."
- Dr Kerry Swalwell, Principal, Plum Grove Junior High, Rolling Meadows, IL
“Mr. Rivera’s train-the-trainer approach was a practical, hands-on experience taking you through Differentiated Instruction while learning about its process (learning DI through DI). He led by example in his approach in providing us an understanding of DI from its foundation of DI classroom management and flexible grouping, to the complexities of Tier-Lesson Planning and modeled it every step of the way. Additionally, in our multi-day workshop, he was able to differentiate his instruction and presentation to the needs of our audience. Angelo provided ample time for staff to meet within their own disciplines and outside of their own disciplines to collaborate and create DI activities and lessons. With his assistance, we were able to implement a school-wide staff development on Differentiated Instruction the following school year to 150+ teachers and now in year 2 will focus on DI grading and assessment. His ability to provide our professional development staff the tools to understand the seamlessness of DI through content, process and product has been essential to our success with our entire staff related to Differentiated Instruction.”
- Tony Miller, Assistant Principal, Fremd H.S., Palatine, Illinois
"Jackson Elementary School has contracted Angelo Rivera to provide professional development opportunities for teachers on a number of occasions. Each inservice is tailored to the needs of the faculty. He provides activities that are motivational and fun. The content is contemporary and fits with the school's improvement goals. Teachers always express positive feedback following the experiences. Many teachers participate in Angelo's PLS classes to receive more in-depth information on related topics."
- Dr. Linda J. Rugg, Principal, Jackson Elementary School, Valparaiso, IN