Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
University Work
Conference Presentation
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Websites
Professional References
Timeline
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Alena Willbur

PORTLAND,OREGON

Summary

Dedicated educator with extensive experience in both secondary and university education, known for implementing innovative curriculum designs and diverse teaching strategies. Proven track record of integrating technology to enrich the learning environment, fostering critical thinking and real-world application of academic skills. Committed to creating inclusive classrooms that cater to individual student needs, leading to enhanced engagement and improved academic performance. Passionate about inspiring lifelong learning in students from various backgrounds through relevant and stimulating educational experiences.

Overview

7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

High School English Teacher

Blanchet Catholic School
Salem, Oregon
08.2022 - Current
  • Instructor for students in both regular and advanced English classes at the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade levels, with an emphasis on World literature, American literature, and Writing and Composition.
  • Instructor for AP English Language and Composition.
  • Educator for over 100 students using Common Core Standards, AP Standards, and college-level standards for appropriate courses.
  • Modifies and adjusts English course content for English Language Learners from various countries, including Japan, China, Spain, Mexico, and Germany.

Academic Council Department Representative

Blanchet Catholic School
Salem, Oregon
10.2024 - Current
  • Supports the implementation of academic aspects of Blanchet’s School Improvement Plans as part of the continuous school improvement process
  • Identifies School PD goals and opportunities for staff
  • Works to create goals for departments
  • Discusses use and impact of new educational tools and strategies
  • Reviews school-wide academic policies and provides input and feedback to administration about policies and their implementation
  • Shares effective strategies and resources for student-focused, meaningful, and relevant classroom learning opportunities, in order to provide departments with resources to assist in curriculum and instructional improvement

Student Newspaper Faculty Advisor

Blanchet Catholic School
Salem, Oregon
10.2022 - Current
  • Organized and published the first student-led Newspaper at Blanchet Catholic School
  • Guides student engagement aligning with institution values.
  • Conducts evaluations of student editors at regular intervals throughout the year.
  • Assists students in producing articles, photos, videos, and other multimedia content for the newspaper.
  • Mentors students with aspirations of pursuing a career in journalism.

Academic Rigor Committee Member

Blanchet Catholic School
Salem, Oregon
09.2023 - Current
  • Attends meetings and discusses Professional Development goals and opportunities to improve academic rigor with other committee members.
  • Researches strategies to improve and uphold rigorous academic standards in courses
  • Shares resources and research with teachers and staff.

Prom Committee Faculty Advisor

Blanchet Catholic School
Salem, Oregon
09.2022 - 05.2024
  • Supervised and planned fundraising activities, agendas and budgets
  • Directed students to design event themes and coordinated decorations and promotional materials
  • Managed event budgets, ensuring all events were delivered within financial constraints.

Private Tutor

Various
01.2018 - Current
  • Offers tailored educational support in literary analysis, effective writing skills, and SAT exam strategies.
  • Utilizes online platforms and resources to conduct virtual tutoring sessions.
  • Monitors and records students' progress, providing detailed reports to parents and teachers.

Library Circulation Assistant

Concordia University portland
Portland, Oregon
10.2017 - 04.2019
  • Researched library policies to ensure patron requests were handled properly.
  • Performed daily maintenance tasks such as cleaning shelves and organizing materials.
  • Verified that all returned materials were accounted for before shelving them back into the stacks.
  • Answered routine inquiries and referred patrons to librarians.
  • Entered and updated patrons' records on computers.
  • Shelved books in appropriate locations according to Dewey Decimal System and Library of Congress Classification system guidelines.

Editorial Intern

Portland Monthly Magazine
Portland, OR
05.2018 - 07.2018
  • Assisted editors with research on specific topics as requested.
  • Performed quality assurance checks on published materials prior to distribution.
  • Verified facts, dates and statistics using standard reference sources.
  • Researched and wrote articles for publication in print and online media outlets.

Shift Leader/Barista

STARBUCKS
Hillsboro, OR
10.2019 - 06.2022
  • Served as a positive role model for the shift team and anticipate store and customer needs by consistently evaluating store environment
  • Checked-in with shift team attitudes and delegate tasks to ensure team creates and maintains quality product and customer satisfaction which reflect the Starbucks culture, mission, and values
  • Trained and assisted new employees to create quality products and an environment that reflects Starbucks customer service values
  • Organized opening and closing duties, including cash handling processes, conforming to healthy, safety, and sanitation guidelines for all products

Education

Master of Arts - Teaching

University of Portland
Portland, Oregon
08.2024

Bachelor of Arts - English

Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
06-2022

High School Diploma -

Villanova Preparatory School
Ojai, California
05.2016

Some College (No Degree) - English

Concordia University
Portland, Oregon

High School Coursework - High School General Education and French

Portes-Les-Valence
Portes-Les-Valence, France

Coursework - English Literature and Creative Writing

University of Cambridge
Cambridge, England

Skills

  • Effective communication
  • Research skills
  • Curriculum development
  • Student engagement
  • Project management
  • Creative writing
  • Team collaboration
  • Editing and proofreading

Certification

Preliminary Teaching License issued by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission

University Work

Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • Aided professor of English in research at Concordia University-Portland
  • Researched documentations and sources for professor use

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

  • Aided professors of English at Concordia in Creative Writing and Latin American and Caribbean Literature classes
  • Conducted writing exercises and lectures
  • Created lesson plans

Conference Presentation

Professional Development Presentation: Using Emotional Intelligence to Enhance Learning and Teaching @ Valley Catholic High School, 10/11/24

Accomplishments

Thesis Body G April 2019

  • Awarded thesis with distinction at Concordia University
  • Featured in The Oregonian and interviewed by Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist and author Tom Hallman

2nd Place Short Story Publication 2018

  • Won 2nd place in The Promethean Short Story Contest

1st Place Short Story Contest Publication 2017

  • Won 1st Place in The Promethean Short Story Contest

College of Arts and Sciences Student of the Year at Concordia University-Portland

  • Awarded for accomplishments and contributions at Concordia University-Portland.

Global Studies Student of the Year

  • Awards for accomplishments in the humanities/global studies department at Concordia University-Portland.

Affiliations

  • Ocean of Hearts, Poetry Collection, Published 02/2024
  • Body G, Memoir and Thesis, 04/2019
  • Portland Magazine Article Publications, 2018
  • Short Story "Bluegrass Clippings" published in Concordia University’s literary journal The Promethean, 2018
  • Short Story "The Radioactive Half-Life of Love" Published in Concordia University’s literary journal The Promethean, 2017

Professional References

Corina Moore, Middle School Vice Principal at Blanchet Catholic School

Current supervisor

Email: corinamoore@blanchetcatholicschool.com

Phone: +1 503-391-2639

Mark Risen, AP Social Studies Teacher at Blanchet Catholic School, Retired High School Principal

Current colleague

Email: markrisen@blanchetcatholicschool.com

Phone: +1 503-798-8670

Shayla Brown, Counselor at Blanchet Catholic School

Current colleague

Email: shaylabrown@blanchetcatholicschool.com

Phone: +1 503-391-2639

Timeline

Academic Council Department Representative

Blanchet Catholic School
10.2024 - Current

Academic Rigor Committee Member

Blanchet Catholic School
09.2023 - Current

Student Newspaper Faculty Advisor

Blanchet Catholic School
10.2022 - Current

Prom Committee Faculty Advisor

Blanchet Catholic School
09.2022 - 05.2024

High School English Teacher

Blanchet Catholic School
08.2022 - Current

Shift Leader/Barista

STARBUCKS
10.2019 - 06.2022

Editorial Intern

Portland Monthly Magazine
05.2018 - 07.2018

Private Tutor

Various
01.2018 - Current

Library Circulation Assistant

Concordia University portland
10.2017 - 04.2019

Master of Arts - Teaching

University of Portland

Bachelor of Arts - English

Arizona State University

High School Diploma -

Villanova Preparatory School

Some College (No Degree) - English

Concordia University

High School Coursework - High School General Education and French

Portes-Les-Valence

Coursework - English Literature and Creative Writing

University of Cambridge

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Alena Willbur