Courage, Integrity, Trust, Hope
Education.
May 2016 Indiana Wesleyan University
Master of Education in School Administration
Master of Education in School Administration
December 2009 Ball State University
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Educations
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Educations
Certification.
State of Michigan School Administrator’s Certificate
Certificate #: SA0000000967941 Expires 2/2028
State of Indiana School Administrator’s Professional Educator’s License
License #1618047 Expires: 10/2027
Certificate #: SA0000000967941 Expires 2/2028
State of Indiana School Administrator’s Professional Educator’s License
License #1618047 Expires: 10/2027
Educational Leadership Experience.
Principal, Stewart Elementary
Lakeshore Public Schools, Stevensville, MI
July 2018 - Present
Lakeshore Public Schools, Stevensville, MI
July 2018 - Present
- Worked collaboratively with staff to repair, build and maintain a positive, strong culture and climate where every member of The Stewart Family feels heard and valued. Gathered monthly culture feedback from staff members and made intentional decisions based on this feedback to bolster a positive culture at Stewart Elementary. Created multiple Shared Leadership Roles for the staff.
- Systematically reduced behavior referrals as the leader of PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Team, provided training for staff and students about school-wide expectations. Collaborated with staff, families and students to improve PBIS program, apply for grants to fund PBIS and roll out our initiatives.
- Increased supervision and safety of students through redesign of car pickup dismissal system, arrival and dismissal procedures, creating the school Crisis Management Plan and staff professional development.
- Redesigned staff evaluation within the parameters of the teaching contract to increase feedback about classroom instruction and student achievement. Each teacher participated in a pre-conference, an observation of an entire lesson and a post-conference. During the evaluation feedback cycle, teachers were given an area of reinforcement and an area of refinement using research-based best practices and tools.
- Restructured PLC time through creating collective commitments & norms as collaborative educator teams, working alongside the Guiding Coalition to provide intensive, job-embedded professional development for the entire instructional staff.
- Organized, facilitated, and monitored the MTSS program. Increased the effectiveness of the MTSS program through a complete program redesigned focused on collective commitments, meetings focused on action and data-driven decision-making.
- Led the 504 program at Stewart Elementary. Conducted Special Education, English Language Learning and 504 case conferences for Stewart Elementary.
- Fortified the Social Emotional Learning program through Trauma Informed Resilient Schools training, Second Step, TRAILS, Restorative Practices and restructuring the role of the counselor and her paraprofessionals.
- Increased enrollment in county Cognitive Impairment classrooms (K-2 classroom & 3-5 classroom) through increased integration in the general education setting, redesigning the structure of the program and its services and increased support from the building level administrator.
- Disaggregated state, district and site assessment data with Interventionist and collaborative educator teams to create a guaranteed and viable curriculum using the Four Essential PLC questions. Planned and implemented daily intervention for grades K-5 in reading enrichment and targeted supports using flexible grouping, pre- and post-assessments, and progress monitoring with research-based best practices.
- Cultivated and strongly supported the active Stewart Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization.
- Created and empowered the staff Synergy team to make decisions about the PBIS store, staff and student connection, teaching Stewart’s schoolwide expectations, supporting the Student Synergy team, and hosting local community givebacks.
- Collaboratively created the Stewart building schedule alongside staff to ensure every grade level team receives common planning time every day. The schedule prioritizes student learning by carving out significant blocks for instruction.
- Partnered with Ferris State University to make Stewart Elementary the sole partner site in the surrounding area for elementary education students.
- Created a highly engaging space on social media (Instagram & Facebook) to draw in stakeholders and the local community. The Stewart pages reach a wide audience, sharing updates and highlighting achievements, with strong engagement from the local community. Biweekly newsletters, sent via text, email and social media, increased communication with families.
- After the COVID-19 pandemic, founded a partnership with The Bark Angels, a therapy dog organization, to support the social-emotional needs of the students and staff at Stewart Elementary.
- Cultivated valuable partnerships with various organizations, including the Southwest Michigan Humane Society, Lory's Place, The Lincoln Township Fire Department, The Lincoln Township Police Department, The Caring Cupboard Food Pantry, The Lincoln Township Public Library, Berrien County Foster Grandparents Program, The Southwest Michigan Steelheaders, and Crownpointe Senior Living Facility.
- Introduced the annual Veterans Day lunch to the Stewart Elementary community. The Veterans Day lunch is an opportunity to host veterans to recognize their service and provide them with a free meal.
- Collaboratively partnered with elementary and district leaders to plan for professional development, safety, distance learning and overall function of the district.
- Elementary administrator representative for Lakeshore Education Association meetings and interest-based bargaining group for contract negotiations.
- Led each Stewart Elementary Collaborative Educator Team and the Lakeshore Public School Elementary Leadership Team in the creation of norms and collective commitments.
- Created and implemented opportunities for cross-district grade-level collaboration on a monthly basis.
RtI Coordinator, Department of Instruction and Curriculum
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
September 2017 – June 2018
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
September 2017 – June 2018
- Worked closely with the Special Services Department to meet student needs through Tier II and Tier III interventions prior to a referral for testing (if necessary).
- Redesigned, clarified and delineated the Marion Community Schools RtI Process to better meet the needs of our students.
- Created a process for Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans.
- Systematic, classroom and formal observations completed on students in grades Kindergarten – eight. Participated in and assisted with individual assessments that contributed to the formal evaluation process for Special Services.
- Trained and worked collaboratively with teachers, administrators, coaches and staff to successfully implement the RtI Process, Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans.
- Academic and Behavior Intervention Resources made easily accessible for district staff through PowerSchool Learning.
- Met the needs of each building through weekly/month meetings, trainings and coaching sessions.
- Led professional development sessions and modeled best practices for implementing Guided Reading and Small Groups in the junior high settings (grades 7 and 8).
Assistant Principal, Kendall Elementary School
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
July 2016 – September 2017
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
July 2016 – September 2017
- Positively managed student behavior as leader of PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Team, provided training for staff and students about school-wide expectations. Coached staff on behavior management through monthly behavior newsletter containing discipline data and research-based strategies as well as led monthly behavior collaboration meetings.
- Collaborated with other schools and district personnel to improve PBIS program, apply for grants to fund PBIS at Kendall Elementary and plan district-wide initiatives.
- Planned, implemented and lead weekly instructional collaboration meetings with teachers and weekly professional development sessions.
- Identified the need for, designed, planned and hosted six Family Nights per year.
- Communicated successes and updates to students, families, stakeholders and community members through the Kendall Elementary Facebook and family events.
- Disaggregated student achievement data to provide updates to Superintendent and district personnel quarterly, collaborate with teachers to design interventions, create assessments to monitor learning and explicitly and frequently update staff, student and families on achievement.
- Created, updated and focused the School Improvement Plan and “Grow Room” to better identify the needs of the students at Kendall Elementary, their current achievement and opportunities for growth.
- Coached and monitored classroom instruction through individual teacher meetings, classroom walkthroughs and formal teaching evaluations.
Classroom Teaching Experience.
October 2012 – June 2016
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
August 2015 – June 2016, Principal Intern/Fourth Grade, Kendall Elementary
August 2014 – July 2015, TAP Mentor/Third Grade, Frances Slocum Elementary
October 2012 – July 2014, Third Grade, Kendall Elementary
Dr. Robert Faulkner Academy, Marion, IN
Mentor Teacher (Grade 1)
August 2010 – June 2011
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
Academic Specialist/Long-Term Substitute (Grade 4) – Allen Elementar
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
August 2015 – June 2016, Principal Intern/Fourth Grade, Kendall Elementary
August 2014 – July 2015, TAP Mentor/Third Grade, Frances Slocum Elementary
October 2012 – July 2014, Third Grade, Kendall Elementary
- Highest passing average on IREAD-3 (3 cohorts of students) in Marion Community Schools, highest third grade ELA and Math ISTEP scores in the district during the 2013-2014 school year
- Increased student problem solving in grades 2-4 by 15% as a TAP Mentor Teacher
- Coached, evaluated and mentored classroom teachers using the TAP Evaluation Rubric as a member of the Frances Slocum Elementary Leadership Team
Dr. Robert Faulkner Academy, Marion, IN
Mentor Teacher (Grade 1)
August 2010 – June 2011
Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
Academic Specialist/Long-Term Substitute (Grade 4) – Allen Elementar
Professional Leadership & Learning.
Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principal Association
- Region V Board, 2021 - Present
- Legislative Representative, 2022 – Present
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Representative, 2021 - 2022
- Resilient Leaders Community of Practice, Cohort 1, August 2022 – Present
- Community of practice meeting twice a month studying Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar to guide our journey in growing individual resilience, building organizational conditions, and strengthening systemic conditions.
- Leadership Matters, Cohort 10, 2018 – 2019
- Specialty endorsement program was carefully designed to help participants become thoughtful, responsive leaders. Integrated within the Leadership Matters program are themes of intentionality, reflection, courage and integrity, coaching and collaborative culture.
- Michigan Elementary Middle School Principal Association, 2018 – Present
- Basic Training, 2016 – 2017
- Advanced Training, 2017 - Present
- LETRS training with Lexia Learning
- Solution Tree RTI Academy, PLCs at Work Academy and attended Solution Tree Conference in Grand Rapids (2022)
- Adaptive Schools Training
- 5 Dimensions Plus (5D+) Tool for Teacher Evaluation to engage in rich dialogue with teachers about classroom instruction and professional growth to increase student achievement
- Smekens Training in Literacy
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certified
- Trauma Informed Resilient Schools Training
- Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports training (IU CELL) & coach, 2014 - present
- Certified TAP Evaluator, 2014 – 2018
- I-STEP Passage Review Committee, July 2015 & I-STEP Cut Score Committee, October 2015
- Member from 2015 – 2018
- In-depth experience with facilitating, disaggregating data and making instructional plans and decisions with MSTEP, I-STEP, IREAD, NWEA, DIBELS, F&P, AIMS Web, Easy CBM, SRI, Acuity, and Acadience