Passionate educator with 20+ years experience teaching diverse populations of students including at-risk, multiple learning disabilities, Advanced Placement classes, and honor students. Current North Carolina State license and certification in Biology, Advanced Placement Biology, General Science, Middle School Science, and Special Education. My professional focus is integrating technology and an international perspective into my classroom to empower students to succeed in this increasingly digital and information-driven global society.
Professional License and Certifications
- North Carolina Teaching License in Biology, General Science, Middle School Science, Special Education
- Certification in College Board Advanced Placement Biology
- Certification in Grants Development and Grant Writing
- Certification in Social Emotional Learning Instruction
Leadership Roles
- Intervention Leader – coordinate intervention services and strategies for at-risk students.
- Earth/environmental Science Professional Learning Community Leader – facilitate teacher collaboration in planning common lessons, developing assessments, and analyzing data to improve learning outcomes for students.
- District Biology Curriculum Writer – drafted, edited, and revised Biology unit guides and instructional guides for Wake County Public School System, North Carolina.
- New Teacher Mentor – worked directly with beginning teachers to observe lessons and to offer feedback prior to formal administrative observations, and conducted monthly support group meetings for beginning teachers to foster professional growth
- Equity Team Leader – coordinate monthly equity team meetings and events to promote an inclusive and anti-racist school wide culture.
Professional Experience
Middle Creek High School – Apex, NC
Science Teacher/Leader, 3/2014 – present
- Develop engaging lesson plans integrating technology, project-based learning, and real world problem-solving investigations that are aligned with state standards in Biology and Earth/Environmental Science.
- Prepare and facilitate laboratory investigations that reinforced core scientific concepts in Biology and Earth/Environmental Science.
- Successfully provide test preparation and coaching for End-Of-Course state exam in Biology attaining higher scores than average state scores.
- As Science Intervention Teacher, I provide students at-risk of failing science individualized support, and subject-based learning strategies and study skills. Also, developed first school wide End-Of-Course test prep course for all students enrolled in Biology.
- As Earth/Environmental Professional Learning Community Leader, duties include facilitating teacher collaboration in planning common lessons, developing assessments, and analyzing data to improve learning outcomes for students.
Lakeview School – Durham, NC
Science Teacher/EC Teacher, 09/2006 – 3/2014
- Developed relevant, interactive lesson plans that increase student mastery of NC Standard Course of Study curriculum’s central concepts for Middle and High School students.
- Coordinated and instructed laboratory investigations that are aligned with NC Standard Course of Study.
- Effectively provided test preparation activities that increased proficiency on district and state tests.
- Successfully facilitate student participation in the classroom through integration of student led projects, hands-on exercises, and technology-based activities.
- As Lead Teacher, coordinated and facilitated weekly teachers meetings, mentored and supported first year and newly hired teachers, implemented and instructed Literacy Program, developed in-school test prep program for students in need of remediation.
- As the Science Professional Learning Community (PLC) Leader, coordinated and facilitated PLC meetings, communicated and scheduled of PLC activities, acted as liaison between School Improvement Team and PLC efforts.
Dewitt Clinton High School – Bronx, NY
Science Teacher/Science Department Coordinator, 08/2000 – 06/2006
- Provided hands-on, inquiry-based learning in an urban inner-city environment
- Instructed Advanced Placement and honors courses
- Instructed biology classes with outcomes of an average of 30% of students achieving in the 90 percentile on State Regents Exam.
- Coordinated School-wide Annual Science Fair and field trip excursions to museums, science centers, and other educational institutions.
- Coordinated distance learning opportunities and community service projects
Projects and Initiatives
White Oak Baptist Church Education Enrichment Program, Apex, NC – Provided tutoring in reading, writing, and general study strategies
Special Program in Science and Engineering (SPISE), City University of New York – Provided hands-on labs and inquiry-based STEM projects and activities to high school students from economically disadvantaged areas with the goal of increasing the number of underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Makerspace , Chapel Hill, NC – collaborated in creating a STEM focused maker space for children with critical illnesses and their siblings during their stay at RMHC. Assisted in all stages of the development of the makerspace including design, construction, purchasing supplies, and developing lessons and activities.
Publications
“Enhancing Global Education by utilizing technologies that support classroom collaboration across international borders” Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, March 2023.
Education
Lehman College, Bronx, NY – Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC – Masters of Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship