Certification and Education

Experience
English Teaching Certificate
grades 7-12
Millersville University 2006

Reading Specialist Certificate (and degree)
​grades k-12
West Chester University 2014

Masters of Literacy
West Chester University, West Chester, PA
4.0 GPA (Deans List every semester)
Practicum (Student Teaching) in K-5 and 6-12

Bachelor of Science in Education, English 
Millersville University, Millersville, PA
3.64 GPA
Minor in Art
Middle School Reading Teacher    
8TH GRADE, August 2017 TO PRESENT
Riverview Junior High School: Oakmont, PA
  • Crafted lessons by gathering current resources through SAS, Scholastic Book Clubs, and Scholastic magazines
  • Cultivated a student-centered learning environment through shared texts, independent reading, and conferring
  • Collected data to determine Lexile levels for flexible grouping of students
  • Differentiated instruction based on individual needs, abilities, IEP’s, and 504 plans
  • Advanced teaching practices through AIU trainings (several TDA and Reading Symposiums) and Teachers College, Columbia University (Lucy Calkins reading workshop model)
  • Facilitated weekly communication with all parents and guardians
  • Incorporated digital literacy methodologies within the reading curriculum
  • Designed assessments based upon Bloom’s Taxonomy in both Honors and Academic Reading classes
  • Planned for instruction in an inclusive environment with our reading specialist and learning support teachers
  • Assisted with Senior Exit Interviews
  • Coordinated middle school book club meetings for “Battle of the Books” culminating in field trip to Carnegie library county competition
  • Implemented various digital literacy resources for implementation in independent and center-based learning including iReady, ReadTheory, Commonlit, Quill, Empower, and more
  • Co-planned and coordinated daily with Honors English 8 teacher for rigorous and relevant lessons

Middle School Writing Teacher
7TH GRADE,  JUNE 2015 TO August 2017
PEQUEA VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL: KINZERS, PA
  • Co-taught with language arts and special education instructors to create skills-based instruction for remedial, general education, and gifted education (my course name: ELA Extensions)
  • Instructed writing and grammar specifically (2015-2016) to support concepts in ELA/reading class
  • Created and implemented weekly academic vocabulary instruction for 7th grade
  • Conducted professional development of peer teachers in writing and vocabulary instructional practices
  • Integrated technology into daily class routines
 
HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER   
9-12TH GRADE,  JANUARY 2008 TO JUNE 2015
PEQUEA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL: KINZERS, PA
  • Differentiated instruction across various grade levels/tracks (8.5 years):                              
    • AP Literature and Composition (4 yrs.)
    • creative writing (4)
    • 11th grade college preparatory and vocational English (6)
    • public speaking (1)
    • 12th grade college preparatory, vocational, and honors (2)                                 
    • 10th college preparatory (2)
    • mass media/journalism course (2)
    • 9th college preparatory (3)
  • Wrote Common-Core curriculum for 10th grade English with Learning Focused Schools initiative
  • Integrated technology into daily classroom routines: from interactive organizers and posted homework to classroom management and formative/summative assessment
  • Co-taught with special education teacher (four years)
  • Advised extracurricular activity: HS Newspaper (three years)
  • Performed reading and literary skills assessments and used data to inform instruction

LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
12TH GRADE, AUGUST 2007 TO JANUARY 2008
LOWER DAUPHIN HIGH SCHOOL: HUMMELSTOWN, PA
  • Developed and implemented classroom management/procedures for British Literature classroom: college and technical preparatory
  • Executed Learning Focused Schools initiative in short and long range planning •Advised extracurricular activity: Japanese Culture Club
 
LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
10TH GRADE, DECEMBER 2006 TO JUNE 2007
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL: MANHEIM, PA
  • Co-taught with a reading specialist for college preparatory and remedial classes
LITERACY/READING SPECIALIST PRACTICUM II 
9TH GRADE 1-1 TUTOR JULY 2014 TO AUGUST 2014
WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY: WEST CHESTER, PA
  • Implemented data-driven reading instruction with focus on comprehension and fluency
Continue scrolling for a short gallery and "Notable Work Accomplishments."
Picture
February 2020: Battle of the Books Competition at Carnegie Library, first year the school participated!
Picture
Read Across America Day 2021: a day dedicated to literacy! My 8th graders listened to guest speakers (teachers, staff, administrators, school librarian, community library and parents). Guests were invited to share their favorite book from adolescence and share a short passage.
Picture
I frequently promote literacy by talking (and advertising) what I read to students. Students recently asked me to start an Instagram for recommendations!
Picture
April 2021: Every year, I celebrate National Poetry month with an engaging nod to March Madness tournament brackets. Students evaluate paired poems based on a focus: theme, title, diction, symbol, etc. Bulletin board represents what students see (and vote on) digitally.
Picture
Spring 2021: Dystopian Book Club Meetings. Students applied the learning from whole-class novel mini-lessons to their group's book club novel throughout the unit.
Picture
For Valentine's day, 8th graders wrote love letters or break-up letters to a book they read this year.

Notable Work Accomplishments

MM2021 - Schoology Staff Trainer
2021 - Battle of the Books Advisor (5 Teams), co-advisor was gifted teacher
2021 - Guest Speakers in Marketing for "Teachers in the Workforce" Integrated Unit
2021- Virtual Field Trip of Globe Theatre
2020- Battle of the Books Advisor (1 Team), first year for school district!
2019-2020- Funded classroom library, Battle of the Books novels, and Book Club novel choices through DonorChoose
2012-2017 - Teacher in Apple Distinguished School
2011-2015 - Student Achievement Scholarship Committee member
2010-2015 - Faculty Senate Representative 
2008-2010 - PSEA Building Representative
2014, 2011 - Advisor/Mentor Senior Projects (students writing novels)
2011 - AP Literature and Composition Field Trip (Fulton Shakespeare Theatre and Museum in DC)
2010 - AP Literature and Composition Field Trip (Lantern Theatre to see Henry VIII, Philadelphia, PA)
2010-2011 - Advisor, Poetry Out Loud Competition for HS (went to county competition)