about me

*BA in Chemistry with French minor from Hope College (Michigan)

*Graduate Certificate of Educational Technology and Information Literacy (COETAIL)

*M.Ed. in School Technology Leadership from the University of Kentucky

*certified to teach secondary French & Chemistry

*lived in Rennes, France (twice) and Jackson, Wyoming

*moved from Michigan to South Carolina in 2008, back to MI summer of 2012, off to Kuwait in August 2012, on to China in July 2018, and landed in the Netherlands in July 2022

*living in Amsterdam with my husband and kittens

*former Instructional Coach (Technology Integration)

*passionate about the power of coaching to positively impact student learning

*blogging about our experiences as expat teachers (rarely)

*love and miss my family back in the mitten (aka Michigan), but privileged to experience the world

*first-time homeowners, loved every minute of summer 2022 getting to enjoy our house 2 years after buying it

Bio: Lissa Layman is a chemist turned teacher. After leaving the land of pharmaceuticals, she entered the game of teaching. In a surprise turn of events, she has actually enjoyed the daily challenge and adventure education brings. During her three years in South Carolina, Lissa helped write a grant to get iPod touches into the hands of students in the World Language classrooms at her high school. She was also fortunate enough to teach French in a 1:1 Chromebook classroom in a Google Apps for Education District. Lissa has an MEd in School Tech Leadership from the University of Kentucky, holds a Certificate of Educational Technology and Information Literacy (COETAIL), and is a Cognitive Coach and Critical Friends Group Coach. As an Instructional Coach, she spent six years in Kuwait coaching colleagues in the meaningful integration of pedagogy and technology while collaboratively building a coaching ethos and program. Lissa is the Director of Curriculum & Instruction for Eduro Learning and oversees all aspects of the COETAIL program. During her time in Beijing, she embraced the experience of working part-time at ISB in the Office of Learning. With a commitment to authentic collaboration and effective communication, she relentlessly pursues learning opportunities in all aspects of her life.