Dana Burwell is passionate about teaching and learning! As a classroom and ESL teacher at both the elementary and secondary levels for the past 15 years, Dana understands the challenges facing general education teachers. She believes that the key to closing the achievement gap for English Language Learners is in empowering classroom teachers with methods that engage their students in simultaneous learning of content and language.

Dana graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995 with a degree in History and has enjoyed a rewarding career of teaching students from kindergarten to college ever since.  She earned her Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and Linguistic Diversity from Adams State College in 1999, and recently completed the Educational Leadership program at Mesa State College with principal licensure.   Dana’s work as an ELA teacher and coach in a district highly impacted by ELLs reflects the variety of her own training, including SIOP, cooperative learning, Spence Rogers and PEAK Learning Systems,  McREL’s English Language Learner Leadership Academy, and the Success For All Foundation. Because of her creative integration of these diverse methods and programs, Dana has been honored to be among "Who's Who Among American Teachers" for two years.  

Beginning in 2005, she teamed up with Beth Skelton, presenting at CoTESOL and facilitating staff development around the state.  As the induction coach for new teachers in the Garfield RE2 district, Dana conducts regular workshops and provides one-on-one follow-up coaching with up to 80 teachers each school year.  Dana also co-authored the district's Literacy and Content Development Plan for English Language Learners.  Her workshops, teacher induction classes, and professional coaching have been well received, and she continues to be inspired by the students and teachers she works with.