Greater Rockford Area
I have benefited from being an educational leader at every educational level. As a leader of a school district, it is important to understand the educational environment at every level. My background gives me an advantage of having worked with a wide variety of educators. I believe it is essential to develop an open school climate based on communication, collaboration, trust and professionalism. I would be remiss without saying that the successes I have had were not my own; they are the district’s as a whole. I have been able to build a capacity for change and a team that focuses on student learning. Together we have implemented many research-based initiatives that helped with a Professional Learning Community. When teachers and support staff feel appreciated for their efforts, a positive and enthusiastic environment is created. This enthusiasm carries over to the classroom, which ultimately benefits the students. Students who enjoy learning and who are engaged will have a positive educational experience. .
Pre-K-12 Unit District; 4100 students; 750 faculty and staff (365 teachers)
PK-12 District, 856 students, 126 faculty and staff (58 teachers) •Integrated technology into all of the Elementary and Jr./Sr. High classrooms (SMART boards, tablets, ipods, ipads etc.) •Created a three year technology plan to integrate a one to one chromebook initiative. Worked with administration, teachers, and community •Moved Jr./Sr. High from block schedule to traditional schedule to instill more productive curriculum and save on expenses •Hold Educational Forums for the teachers and community members •Created committee to create a tutorial program at the Jr./Sr. High •Created communication survey and plan for the district •Vertically aligning K-12 Math and ELA to Common Core Standards •Continue to look at ways to balance revenue and expenses. •Continue to provide the school district with three year finance projections •Present bi-annually to the community on the finances of the school district •Create a yearly budget and levy (tax capped) •Successfully completed a million dollar roof project funded by bond •Successfully negotiated Teacher contract •Negotiated transportation shared service agreement with neighboring district which saves the district $100,000 annually •Created and maintain social media for the district •Visible in the community to promote the school district •Create annual District Strategic Action Plan with the school board and community •Hold monthly school board meetings. Conduct a yearly school board retreat •Created job descriptions for all employees in the district •District created bullying policy, procedures and a program that is more proactive than reactive •Created a Marketing Subcommittee of school board members and community members •Worked with teachers and administrators on new evaluation plan based on the Charlotte Danielson model •Went through a hiring process to hire a new Jr./Sr. high principal. The district used behavior based questioning
7-12 building, 270 students, 33 faculty and staff •Teacher Induction Program- Developed district Teacher Mentoring Program •Certificate of Employability- Collaborated with area school districts, communities and businesses to implement this certificate to help students receive a job out of high school •Implemented classroom walkthroughs showing specific data to use for school improvement •Teacher Evaluations- Created teacher evaluation tool. Completed evaluations of tenure and non-tenure certified/noncertified employees •Brought new technology in the building by adding classes and resources (mobile labs, smart boards, LCD projectors, laptops) •Professional Development Activities- Provided direct professional development activities to teachers in the areas of RtI, teaching children in poverty, data driven instruction, using the internet for classroom instruction, scientific classroom instruction strategies, classroom management strategies •Recreated the high school master schedule to incorporate dept. meetings, mentoring time, RtI, academic testing review time and academic success incentives •Devised a character education program for the junior high school students •School Improvement Plan (SIP)- Facilitated the development of the building wide SIP with emphasis on technology, attendance, continuing to increase our academic success in the areas of statewide testing •Created parent involvement opportunities •Facilitated district committees (Handbook, curriculum, SIP, superintendent liaison, community) •Discipline- Handled all school discipline ranging from counseling to expulsion •Hired and dismissed faculty, staff and coaches in the district •Worked with the local law enforcement agencies and community on the district crisis plan
Pre-K-5th grade building, 385 students, 41 faculty/staff •Response to Intervention (RtI)- Organized and conducted the building/district RtI self evaluation process, developed the RtI Plan, and implemented a RtI Professional Development Plan including direct professional development activities with building and district staff •Illinois Standard Achievement Test/Illinois Alternative Assessment (ISAT/IAA) Coordinator- Coordinated all aspects of testing including online reports, certified/noncertified professional development and distribution/collection of materials •Teacher Evaluations- Evaluations of tenure and non-tenured certified/noncertified employees •School Improvement Plan (SIP)- Facilitated the development of the building wide SIP •Local Assessments- Provided leadership and teacher support on revising local benchmarks, as well as implementing the use of Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) •Participated in district committees (handbook, curriculum, facility and grounds, life safety, calendar) •Curriculum- Collaborated with administration and faculty on the development and alignment of Reading, Math, and Writing (4 square) Curriculum •Assisted in the coordination of the district’s reduction in force, closing down of elementary campus, transition of new community, and transportation organization •Implemented parent workshops in order to help the parents and their child •Brought the community into the building through reading days, committees, career fairs •Created additional investment opportunities using the district activity funds •Presented to the school board on ways to increase the success of the school district