Professional Development & Technical Assistance

Introducing...

Alissa Ongie is the new Pre-K Project Coordinator for the State Improvement Grant, succeeding Kathryn DeVault, who relocated to Nashville.  Alissa completed a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in 2004.  Her work experience includes 3 years as a teacher at ETSU’s Little Buccaneers Student Child Care Center, as well as 2 years as an adjunct faculty member, teaching Early Childhood classes at Northeast State Technical Community College. Alissa most recently worked for Upper East Tennessee’s Child Care Resource and Referral agency with Project REEL (Resources for Early Educator Learning), a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to provide literacy training to teachers of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Alissa lives in Johnson City with husband David, a sportswriter for the Kingsport Times News, and with their three dogs. In her free time, Alissa enjoys reading, playing putt-putt golf, and training one of her dogs to become a therapy dog. Please join us in making Alissa feel welcome in schools associated with SIG by tapping into her knowledge, energy, and resourcefulness. 

SIG is also pleased to welcome Gail Cook as the new School Service Consultant in SIG schools across Tennessee, succeeded Suzy Page. Joining co-provider Kandy Smith, Gail will be working for the SIG grant through the University of Tennessee. Kandy and Gail will be sharing schools across Tennessee, providing technical assistance to current SIG schools and reaching out to other Tennessee schools with a planned compilation of best practices in reading instruction.
Gail is a thirty-two year veteran of the classroom.  She obtained a BA from Morehead State University in History and English and an MA from Union College in Education.  Gail's teaching career spans three decades in Laurel County, where she has taught 7-12 English, reading, history, language arts, drama, writing, and journalism and served as Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Curriculum Standards Chairman, Writing Chairman and Liaison to the Superintendent.   She was recognized by the Joint Session of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for her work with at risk children, and was named Ambassador of Good Will for the Commonwealth of Kentucky by the Kentucky Tourism Commission. 

Gail's hobbies include volunteering for all breed dog rescue, digital graphics, and spending time with grandchildren, Olivia Dayne, 21 months, and Bleau, 2 months.  Gail is enjoying downtown-living in Knoxville, TN with her two basset hounds, Daisy and Dolly.

Kandy Smith is the project coordinator for grades K-12 in East Tennessee and Davidson County. Kandy’s educational background includes a double major in English and Education from Belmont College, a masters degree in supervision and administration from Tennessee Tech University, and she has recently been a doctoral student at Western Kentucky University but is moving her program to the University of Tennessee. Kandy’s work experience includes 21 years teaching experience; she taught high school and middle school English and high school Spanish, holds a library science certification and served as part-time librarian at two schools, was a principal for 10 years in a K-6 elementary school. She also coached volleyball, basketball, softball, golf, and soccer at the high school level. Kandy lives in Carthage, TN, and has two children; Shelley,  a senior at Tennessee Tech University majoring in psychology, and Sam, a junior at Smith County High School. Kandy’s personal hobbies include working with the music program at her church, golf, and reading.