JoEllen McCarthy is a The Educator Collaborative network member.  Read her full bio here or request her support for speaking engagements.

JoEllen is an educator for 20+ years, is a lifelong learner and literacy specialist who spends her days teaching and learning alongside students, teachers and administrators to support literacy instruction, as well as student-centered collaborative coaching cycles. As The Educator Collaborative’s Book Ambassador, she spreads her enthusiasm for literature through an exploration of mentor texts that emphasize reading and writing connections through conversations about practices that contribute to caring, responsive, classroom communities. A frequent presenter at regional and national conferences, JoEllen works hands-on in schools and districts to impact professional literacy communities with research and standards-aligned best practices that recognize students as our most important aspect of the curriculum. She is passionate about the heart work of teaching and works to emphasize reading and writing connections, character education, responsive classrooms, and culturally responsive teaching, while championing the power of read alouds and choice to affect independent readers, writers and thinkers. JoEllen facilitates pedagogy with differentiation within the workshop model as a method and mindset for reaching all learners. Follow her on Twitter @JoEllenMcCarthy.  

Sheetal Sheth is an acclaimed actress known for her provocative performances in a wide range of memorable roles on film and television. She has starred in over 18 feature films and many TV shows and has earned a loyal following. Perhaps best known to mainstream film audiences for starring opposite Albert Brooks in Warner Bros’ Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World, Sheetal has become a favorite in the independent film world. She won 3 Best Actress nods in the festival circuit for The World Unseen and 1 for her role in Wings of Hope, with the former premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival and then going on to win 11 SAFTA’s (South African equiv to Oscars).

In 2012, fans voted her ‘Favorite Movie Actress’ in AfterEllen’s Visibility Awards after raves in the cult fave I Can’t Think Straight. She was recently seen in the HBO documentary East of Main Street: Taking The Lead, USA’s Donny! and the film Grin (which she also produced) that has been winning awards in the festival circuit including Best Actress. Past TV guest star appearances include Blue Bloods, NCIS: Los Angeles, Royal Pains, and Nip/Tuck.

Sheetal has represented such brands as Reebok and CHI hair care. She was also the first Indian American to be featured in Maxim. She regularly speaks on panels and forums internationally and takes an active interest in politics. She served in President Clinton’s AmeriCorps and is currently on the advisory board of Equality Now and an ambassador for The Representation Project. Sheetal has been known to lend a voice to many an animated program, most recently in Family Guy. Follow her on Twitter @sheetalsheth