SHONA LANSDELL

Providing practical and realistic guidance

Don’t be fooled by Shona Lansdell’s soft-spoken demeanor. This professional development dynamo packs a punch with crowds of all sizes as she motivates educators to apply best-practice literacy strategies.

Always approachable and empathetic, Shona taps into her 25 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and building leader to offer practical and realistic guidance to teachers.

LITERACY CONSULTANT

The perfect fit

Shona’s expert knowledge of best-practice literacy strategies, along with her rich history of providing side-by-side support to teachers, allows her to fully customize the on-site professional development she provides to schools.
While the academic standards always serve as the anchor for strategies and ideas shared with teachers, Shona then works to meet teachers where they are. From there, she provides practical, next-step guidance for improving instruction and student achievement in reading and writing.

How to start learning from Shona

Working alongside teachers in their own school is how Shona spends the bulk of her time. Whether she’s fostering conversations with small groups of teachers or leading sessions with the entire staff, Shona always leaves educators confident and ready to implement new ideas.

Schedule an On-Site School Visit
On-site training and consultations allow the entire staff to learn and grow together.
Schedule Live Virtual Training
Using Zoom video conferencing, live, face-to-face professional development for teachers is just a click away.
Schedule Remote Coaching
Face-to-face remote coaching keeps your literacy priorities alive and your trusted support nearby.
Tara Bush, Principal
Olive Elementary School – New Carlisle, IN

“Absolutely amazing! The growth in my students has been overwhelming, and the growth in my own teaching has been mind-blowing!”

 Jenny Tudor, Teacher

Fairview Elementary School, Richmond, IN

“Shona is such an engaging presenter and is a wealth of knowledge. Our staff thoroughly enjoyed learning from her.”

 

Kathy Robinson, Assistant Superintendent of Learning

Community Consolidated District 181, Clarendon Hills, IL

“Shona was wonderful. She was very informative. She used real-world examples from her previous experience. She was willing to answer any questions and was very positive.”

Gail Walker, Teacher

Saint Vivian Catholic School, Cincinnati, OH

“Shona is very passionate in what she does, and the planning she gave us makes me feel super confident in my writing lessons for the next year. Thank you so much!”

Erik Longenecker, Teacher

Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Indianapolis, IN

“Wonderful presentation of information. So engaging and relatable. Honestly, one of the best PDs in my 9 years of teaching. I can’t wait to roll this out to my students.”

Elizabeth Bravo, Teacher

Newport Primary School, Newport, KY

“Shona was absolutely amazing. I loved that she went into the classroom and showed exactly HOW to implement the lessons.”

Crystal Lembke, Teacher

Washington Township Elementary, Valparaiso, IN

Background

Always growing

Never ready to rest on her laurels, Shona Lansdell is a driven educator whose chief motivation is to help teachers and students learn and grow.

Shona’s love of learning (and an opportunity to run on the cross country team) is what led her to Ball State University to pursue her BA in Elementary Education. After she had a decade of classroom experience and three children under her belt, Shona earned her Master’s Degree in School Administration from Indiana University.

Before joining the Smekens team of literacy consultants, Shona dedicated more than 20 years to the students and teachers at Perry Township Schools in Indianapolis. In this diverse urban district, she taught a variety of grades and subjects, served on committees, led building-level professional development, and helped to launch a district-wide initiative on Trauma-Informed Schools.

In her role as a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, Shona offers professional development for teachers through on-site school visits, virtual training, and remote coaching.

She and her husband, Joseph, live in Greenwood, IN where they enjoy spending time with their three young-adult children and their silky Maltese named Penny.

Let’s Connect

Complete the form below or call (888) 376-0448.
We are eager to help you achieve your PD goals!