Personal StateMemt
I believe my students and I are on a shared journey of discovery. This journey is shaped by our unique perspectives, culture, family structure and the connections we build to the world around us. I am an extremely resourceful teacher. I have a proven talent for developing engaging, interdisciplinary, differentiated, and fun learning experiences for my students. I am seeking a teaching position in preferably 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade.
Education
National Louis University Graduated June 2012
M.A.T in Early Childhood Education
Colorado Technical University Graduated December 2008
Executive MBA
DePaul University Graduated June 2007
Bachelors of Arts
M.A.T in Early Childhood Education
Colorado Technical University Graduated December 2008
Executive MBA
DePaul University Graduated June 2007
Bachelors of Arts
Teaching Experience
Village Leadership Academy Chicago, IL August 2012-present
1st Grade Teacher
Responsible for planning effective lessons and preparing resources which have clear teaching aims, objectives and learning outcomes based on the New Illinois State Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core.
Key Contributions:
Loving Care Home Day Care Chicago, IL October 1999-June 2001
Assistant Teacher
Assisted Lead Teacher and Director in providing developmentally appropriate care and learning opportunities to 23 children, (ages 6 weeks -12yrs old) in a home daycare setting.
Key Contributions:
1st Grade Teacher
Responsible for planning effective lessons and preparing resources which have clear teaching aims, objectives and learning outcomes based on the New Illinois State Learning Standards Incorporating the Common Core.
Key Contributions:
- Created an engaging and stimulating environment for students to learn in that promoted self-confidence, problem solving, critical thinking and independence.
- Significantly augmented student gains in reading and comprehension through targeted instruction in word attack strategies, predicting, summarizing, identifying the main idea, and asking and answering questions.
- Successfully collaborated with K-2 teachers on the preparation and development of our Social Justice curriculum (i.e. teaching materials, methods of instruction and assessment tools).
- Received high praise by administrative staff, peers, and parents on my ability to calmly redirect student misbehavior through positive reinforcement and providing a welcoming environment for student learning.
- Effectively used manipulatives and other resources to enhance and reinforce learning in math, reading, and social justice.
- Contributing member on various school committees (i.e. school expansion, social justice, science fair, K-2 curriculum planning, etc).
- Quickly became a resource for other teachers (i.e. lesson ideas and external class resources).
- Earned high marks for the quality of teaching, robust lesson plans and instructional materials used in teaching across content areas.
- Developed and implemented a rigorous, well-rounded service learning project that earned high praise from administration, peers, and parents.
Loving Care Home Day Care Chicago, IL October 1999-June 2001
Assistant Teacher
Assisted Lead Teacher and Director in providing developmentally appropriate care and learning opportunities to 23 children, (ages 6 weeks -12yrs old) in a home daycare setting.
Key Contributions:
- Team taught music and art lessons in collaboration with another assistant teacher.
- Tutored after-school children in math and reading.
Field Experience
Village Leadership Academy Chicago, IL Spring 2012
Student Teacher-1st Grade
Successfully created and implemented daily differentiated lesson plans and activities (i.e. mathematics, reading, language arts, and social justice). Engaged students in shared, independent, and guided instructional activities, under the guidance of a mentor teacher for twelve consecutive weeks (full- time). Implemented classroom management strategies to replace unproductive and disruptive behavior patterns with positive ones.
Dett Elementary Chicago, IL Fall 2010
Student Teacher- Kindergarten
Practicum-27hrs
Facilitated weekly lesson plans based on the Everyday Math and Storytown curriculum, using appropriate Illinois Learning Standards. Co-managed student behavior by setting clear goals, expectations and modeling appropriate pro-social behaviors in an urban classroom environment. Facilitated guided reading groups designed to help students decode words, master sight words, increase fluency, and comprehension skills using various reading strategies (i.e. picture walks, prediction, partner reading, recognizing sounds and letters, retelling, etc…).
Student Teacher-1st Grade
Successfully created and implemented daily differentiated lesson plans and activities (i.e. mathematics, reading, language arts, and social justice). Engaged students in shared, independent, and guided instructional activities, under the guidance of a mentor teacher for twelve consecutive weeks (full- time). Implemented classroom management strategies to replace unproductive and disruptive behavior patterns with positive ones.
Dett Elementary Chicago, IL Fall 2010
Student Teacher- Kindergarten
Practicum-27hrs
Facilitated weekly lesson plans based on the Everyday Math and Storytown curriculum, using appropriate Illinois Learning Standards. Co-managed student behavior by setting clear goals, expectations and modeling appropriate pro-social behaviors in an urban classroom environment. Facilitated guided reading groups designed to help students decode words, master sight words, increase fluency, and comprehension skills using various reading strategies (i.e. picture walks, prediction, partner reading, recognizing sounds and letters, retelling, etc…).
Professional Certifications
Initial Type 04 Certification #2544738
Expire 7/01/2016
Change Management
Awarded by CTU Fall 2008
Business Management
Awarded by CTU Fall 2008
Expire 7/01/2016
Change Management
Awarded by CTU Fall 2008
Business Management
Awarded by CTU Fall 2008
TeChnical Skills
- Kidsperation/ Inspiration
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Basic HTML
- Adobe Products: Dreamweaver, Photoshope 5
- Web Ex
- Go to Meeting
- Skype
- Snag It
- PeopleSoft
- Quickbooks
- Google Applications
Professional Affiliations
U.N.I.T.E (Urban Needs in Teacher Education)
Member
Member