Shobana Ram
Elementary Education Professional
32-08, 85th St., East Elmhurst,NY
Summary
Seasoned progressive educator with 15+ years of experience in elementary classroom teaching, curriculum development, and K-12 Arts Education in independent and public school settings, and after-school programs. Passionate about culturally responsive, anti-racist pedagogy and teaching methodologies. Skilled at building strong, nurturing relationships with students and families of diverse backgrounds.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Second Grade Head Teacher
Dalton School
New York, NY
09.2012 - Current
- Create and teach innovative, dynamic, culturally responsive lessons across core subjects: Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies and Socioemotional Learning.
- Supervise and mentor Associate Teacher in all aspects of classroom teaching, planning and management.
- Collaborate frequently with subject area Specialists and school psychologists to evaluate student academic progress and emotional well-being and create appropriate learning plans and supports for all students.
- Communicate effectively with families to provide feedback about student progress and foster productive school-home partnerships.
- Member of First Program Equity Council: Contributed to Scope and Sequence planning meetings for lower school Identity curriculum
- Presenter at various Heritage Month Celebrations (Black History Month, Asian/Pacific American/ South Asian Heritage Month, Diwali, MLK Day)
- Featured Speaker at Dalton's "Accepted Families" events, presenting on 2nd Grade Social Studies Curriculum (2016-2019)
- Contributed to Working Committees: "Dalton By Design" (K-12 Math & Social Studies), "Academic Excellence" (during remote teaching)
- Co-Facilitated Dalton School’s Alumni of Color workshop in the wake of nation-wide racial and social justice movements, 2020
- Created and presented "Gestural Journeys", an Indian dance-based workshop for faculty, Dalton Professional Development Day, 2018
- Active participant in “Faculty of Color” and Asian-American Faculty Affinity groups
Admissions Consultant
Hunter College Elementary School
New York, NY
12.2009 - 06.2012
- Evaluated pre-school age children, in collaboration with teachers and psychologists, for possible admission to one of NYC's most selective schools for the Gifted
- Designed a new assessment component of the admissions process, in collaboration with a testing psychologist
Teaching Artist
Tilles Center for Performing Arts, School Arts Partnership Program, C. W. Post campus, Long Island University
Brookville, NY
10.2008 - 06.2012
- Taught artistic residencies based on "Aesthetic Education" methodology
- Collaborated closely with teachers to create music, drama, dance and visual arts activities to engage students in open- ended arts exploration as preparation for experiencing a focus work of art.
Teaching Artist & Professional Development Trainer
LEAP
New York, NY
12.2006 - 06.2012
- Developed K-5 Arts Integration curriculum in NYC public schools to teach English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science concepts in General, Special Needs and ESL classrooms
- Designed and implemented dynamic Indian dance residencies with assessment rubrics based on DOE standards, for upper elementary grades
- Created and lead engaging Professional Development workshops for NYC public school teachers and Teaching Artists
- Topics included Early Childhood Development, Grammar through Creative Movement, and integrating Arts into Science.
- Presented Indian dance workshops and assembly programs for K-12 audiences
Producer/ Performer/ Grantee
Indiana Arts Commission
Bloomington, IN
05.2005 - 01.2006
- Received Indiana Arts Commission's 2005 Individual Artist Career Grant, for advanced training in Indian Classical Dance and to produce an evening recital and lecture-demonstration, in collaboration with Indiana University
- Fund-raised additional $3000 from business and academic communities to fund project, and handled venue booking, publicity and event management.
Head Teacher
Village Community School
New York, NY
09.1997 - 10.1999
- Taught 1st /2nd grade class of 21 students in inter-aged environment, with differentiated curriculum
- Supervised Assistant Teacher in all aspects of classroom teaching, lesson planning and parent communication
- Served as a faculty representative on school-wide Diversity Committee examining race, cultural and gender diversity issues in school admissions, recruitment policies, and curriculum
- Researched and compiled Curriculum Resource Guides for 2nd /3rd and 3rd /4th grade teachers on core social studies topics: New Amsterdam and Immigration/ Family Histories, with emphasis on cultural diversity
Assistant Teacher, 6/7s
Manhattan Country School
New York, NY
09.1996 - 06.1997
- Assisted Head Teacher in all areas of classroom teaching for 6-7 year olds: lesson planning, evaluation, classroom management, and parent communication
- Integrated basic Spanish into lesson plans.
Program Associate
Ford Foundation
New York
09.1994 - 08.1996
- Assisted Program Officers in implementing grant programs for K-12; higher education; arts and culture areas, totaling $46 million per year
- Researched global barriers to girls’ education and their links to sexuality issues
- Planned international Arts & Culture grantmaking conference in Mali & Senegal, West Africa
- Developed project proposals with prospective grantees and wrote grant recommendations
- Represented Foundation at grantee meetings and conferences on education, the arts and culture.
Education
Master of Arts - International Educational Development
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, NY 09.1992 - 05.1994
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations, South Asia
University of Virginia
09.1987 - 05.1991
High School Diploma -
The Bronx High School of Science
Bronx, NY 09.1983 - 06.1987
Skills
Google Suite, Zoom, SeeSaw, SMART Board, BookCreator, iMovie, Blackbaud
Fountas & Pinnell Reading Assessment system
Languages: Proficient in Tamil, Beginner Spanish & French, Beginner Hindi
Professional Development & Trainings
- Affinity Group Facilitation training led by DEI practitioner Liza Talusan, 2020
- Reading & Writing Structures and Strategies Institute with Jennifer Serravallo, Heinemann, Memphis, TN, 2019
- National Diversity Practitioners Institute (NDPI) with Dr. Rodney Glasgow/ The Glasgow Group, 2018
- Habla Institute, Meridà, Mexico: Awarded Dalton School’s Summer Grant to attend Spanish immersion classes & annual Habla Arts Education Institute, 2017
- Responsive Classroom, Math in the City, Fay School Summer Math Institute
- NAIS People of Color Conference: Attendee, years: 2016, 2017, 2019 (Presenter), 2022
Volunteer Activity
Scholarship Application Evaluator, Anaya Tipnis Foundation (ATF) (www.anayafoundation.org): 2019- present
- Assess scholarship applications to ATF, which awards deserving low-income high school students in MA with college scholarships, mentoring and internship opportunities.
- Responsibilities include reading, evaluating and scoring all applicants based on a rubric, for selection to an interview round. As the only K-12 educator on the evaluation team, I provide expertise in assessing students’ academic transcripts, personal essays, and counselor recommendations.
Special Presentations
- Presenter, NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) 2019, Seattle, WA: Selected from thousands of proposals to present my Indian movement-based workshop “Gestural Journeys” to a broad range of independent school educators from across the U.S.
- Workshop Presenter for Lower School Teachers, Akshar Arbol International School, Chennai, India, 2018: "Responsive Classroom & the Importance of Interactive Modeling in the Early Elementary grades"
Timeline
Second Grade Head Teacher
Dalton School
09.2012 - Current
Admissions Consultant
Hunter College Elementary School
12.2009 - 06.2012
Teaching Artist
Tilles Center for Performing Arts, School Arts Partnership Program, C. W. Post campus, Long Island University
10.2008 - 06.2012
Teaching Artist & Professional Development Trainer
LEAP
12.2006 - 06.2012
Producer/ Performer/ Grantee
Indiana Arts Commission
05.2005 - 01.2006
Head Teacher
Village Community School
09.1997 - 10.1999
Assistant Teacher, 6/7s
Manhattan Country School
09.1996 - 06.1997
Program Associate
Ford Foundation
09.1994 - 08.1996
Master of Arts - International Educational Development
Teachers College, Columbia University
09.1992 - 05.1994
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations, South Asia
University of Virginia
09.1987 - 05.1991
High School Diploma -
The Bronx High School of Science
09.1983 - 06.1987