Our History Our History
From Farm to Founder
Growing up in a family with Eastern European immigrant roots in a rural upstate New York farming community instilled the ethics of shared responsibility and commitment to helping others in Diane Staehr Fenner, SupportEd President and Founder. These ideals have animated her career as a teacher, researcher, author, and leader of SupportEd — a team and company that shares her unwavering desire to champion educational opportunities for Multilingual Learners (MLs).
2011
An Inspired Vision
Diane Staehr Fenner establishes DSF Consulting with a vision to empower ML educators by providing professional development (PD) and state-level technical assistance.
2014
Expanding Impact
SupportEd’s contribution to the field continues to expand when Staehr Fenner publishes Advocating for English Learners: A Guide for Educators, her first best-selling book published by Corwin. Impact continues to grow when observation and coaching services are added to SupportEd solutions. SupportEd begins offering coaching services.
2015
Supporting ML Programs
SupportEd adds district-level technical assistance solutions by developing ML Strategic Plans such as such as for the Syracuse City in New York State.
2016
Developing ML Standards and Assessments
SupportEd partners with the United States Department of Education (USDOE) to develop ELP standards for adult education. SupportEd also partners with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) to develop formative assessment rubrics for MLs, administration guides, and professional development materials.
2017
Another Publication Unlocked
Best-selling book, Unlocking English Language Learners’ Potential: Strategies for Making Content Accessible, is written by President and Founder, Diane Staehr Fenner, PhD, and Principal Associate, Sydney Snyder, PhD and published by Corwin. The book is a single resource to help MLs meet challenging content standards and includes strategies, examples, and templates to support content and ELD teachers.
2018
Growing Solutions and Resources
Online course offering topics grow and continue to expand. Free resources for educators launch. Master Plan assistance expands to additional districts such as Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
2019
Growth Continues
Another year, another book published. Breaking Down the Wall: Essential Shifts for English Learners’ Success is published. The team officially moves into office space located in Fairfax, VA.
SupportEd expands professional development workshops to support programs throughout different regions of the United States with partnerships including districts in Iowa, Indiana, the Dakotas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and more.
2020
Expanded Virtual Solutions
SupportEd unveils virtual professional development, coaching, and learning webinars in addition to online courses book studies to reach a growing community of partners across the United States and Canada to conveniently take advantage of online.
2021
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Drs. Snyder and Staehr Fenner’s best-selling book Culturally Responsive Teaching for Multilingual Learners: Tools for Equity, is published by Corwin. Culturally Responsive Teaching online book study also launches to help implement the book’s five guiding principles.
2022
Growth Spurts
The SupportEd team grows by 40% adding in support roles, ML coaches, and expanding our consultant team to meet the growing demand for ongoing coaching and support of MLs.
2023
More Books, More Knowledge
Impact continues to expand with research and writing of the new book, Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners, and a second edition of Unlocking Multilingual Learners’ Potential.
Technical Assistance
Our team of ML experts can overhaul and develop curriculum, assessment, strategic planning, and program development.
Educational Books
Authored by members of the SupportEd team, receive bulk discounts, in-depth instructional insight, activities, videos, and more.
Speaker Request
A dynamic and inspiring experience to dive deeper into the world of Multilingual Learners (MLs) at your event, conference, or panel.