ALYSSA N. LENTZ
Milwaukee
Summary
Experienced educator with over 10 years in early childhood teaching, with a track record of enhancing student outcomes through targeted interventions and positive behavior support. Developed a welcoming classroom environment that resulted in significant increases in student participation and fluency, while nurturing strong relationships with students and parents.
Overview
1
1
Certification
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Four-year-old Kindergarten & Kindergarten Teacher
Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee
08.2023 - Current
- Lead weekly guided reading lessons for 20 students, achieving a measurable increase in reading fluency and comprehension, as evidenced by students improving their reading scores on subsequent assessments.
- Implement PBIS strategies to maintain classroom management and foster student motivation, resulting in a noticeable increase in student engagement during lessons.
- Successfully manage a classroom of 25 students by implementing PBIS strategies and establishing clear behavioral expectations.
- Created a welcoming classroom environment through structured routines and interactive displays, enhancing student participation during lessons.
- Collaborated with colleagues to design and implement effective lesson plans, improving student engagement as measured by participation rates.
- Design and execute targeted interventions for struggling students based on assessment performance data.
- Build strong, trusting relationships with students through regular one-on-one check-ins and mentorship, enhancing their engagement and comfort in the classroom.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance and behavior to inform tailored instructional strategies.
- Maintained daily communication with parents and guardians through newsletters, notes, and phone calls to strengthen relationships and support student success.
Kindergarten Teacher
Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee
08.2018 - 06.2023
- Built and nurtured positive relationships with over 20 students, fostering a supportive learning environment that improved engagement and participation.
- Established a structured classroom with daily routines and engaging activities that promoted safety and fostered a love for learning.
- Implemented structured routines and positive reinforcement strategies that maintained classroom management and increased student motivation.
- Implemented classroom management strategies to foster a respectful and focused atmosphere for learning.
- Experience building community within the classroom by using Responsive Classroom techniques as well as PBIS Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions and techniques.
- Collaborated with Response to Intervention team to collect data for PBIS Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions.
- Flexible and able to differentiate instruction based on the needs of diverse learners.
- Taught guided reading lessons to improve student fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking.
- Planned and implemented interventions for students based on data from assessments.
- Experience with collaborating with the community to form partnerships between the community, early learning facilities, and classrooms.
- Knowledge and implementation of various curriculum programs: Frog Street, HMH Reading and Literacy, iReady Math, HMH Science, and Impact Wisconsin Social Studies.
- Demonstrated empathy in interactions with students, fostering a supportive and caring classroom environment.
- Created a positive and safe learning environment that encouraged student engagement and participation.
- Demonstrated strong organizational skills by ensuring all classroom materials were systematically arranged and accessible.
- Effective communicator and active listener.
- Ability to utilize different software programs to plan and enhance lessons to appeal to various learning styles.
K4/K5 Split Grade Level Teacher
Calvary's Christian Academy
Milwaukee
08.2017 - 06.2018
- Built and nurtured positive relationships with over 20 students, fostering a supportive learning environment that improved engagement and participation.
- Established structured classroom with daily routines and engaging activities that fostered safety and a love for learning.
- Implemented various classroom management strategies, effectively maintaining discipline and a positive learning environment for a class of 20+ students.
- Implemented structured routines and positive reinforcement strategies to maintain classroom management and boost student motivation among a diverse group of learners.
- Taught guided reading lessons to improve student fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking.
- Designed and executed targeted interventions for struggling students using performance data from assessments.
- Conducted assessments and tracked students' performance and behavior to tailor instructional strategies and interventions for enhanced learning outcomes.
- Collaborated with a team of 5 colleagues to design and implement a new early childhood education curriculum, resulting in a 20% increase in student engagement as measured by participation rates.
- Provided weekly updates to parents and guardians via email and newsletter regarding student progress and classroom activities.
K4 and K5 Teacher
Institute of Technology and Academics
Milwaukee
12.2015 - 08.2017
- Built positive relationships with over 20 students, fostering a supportive classroom environment that improved engagement and participation.
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians through consistent updates on student performance.
- Implemented structured routines and positive reinforcement strategies to maintain classroom management and enhance student motivation.
- Established a structured classroom through daily routines and engaging activities that promoted safety and a love for learning among students.
- Taught guided reading lessons to improve student fluency, comprehension, and critical thinking.
- Planned and implemented interventions for students based on data from assessments.
- Implemented classroom management strategies to maintain discipline and foster a positive learning environment for 20+ students.
- Worked with a team of educators to design and implement a hands-on curriculum for early childhood education, focusing on fostering creativity and critical thinking skills in students.
- Conducted assessments and tracked students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health to tailor instructional strategies and interventions for improved learning outcomes.
- Taught Orton Gillingham phonics, Everyday Math, reading, and writing to a class of 20 students, utilizing tailored interventions to foster individual learning growth and engagement.
- Ran a Parent Outreach Program that developed 5 new activities to enhance parental involvement in the K4 classroom, resulting in a 30% increase in parent participation at school events.
5th Grade Teacher
North Point Lighthouse Charter School
Milwaukee
08.2015 - 11.2015
- Lighthouse Academies
- Managed classroom of 25 students using TRIBES strategies, promoting discipline and fostering a positive learning environment that encouraged student engagement.
- Implemented various classroom management strategies, maintaining discipline and fostering a positive learning environment for a class of 20+ students, contributing to improved student participation.
- Built positive relationships with over 20 students, fostering a supportive classroom environment that improved engagement and participation.
- Conducted assessments and tracked students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health to customize instructional strategies and interventions, enhancing learning outcomes.
- Planned and implemented interventions for students based on data from assessments.
Summer School Teacher
Sheboygan Area School District
Sheboygan
06.2013 - 08.2015
- Developed and implemented 20+ engaging lesson plans in reading and math, utilizing HMH Reading and iReady Math for students preparing for grades 5 & 6.
- Developed and implemented enrichment lesson plans in math and literacy, enhancing student engagement and comprehension for a class of 25 students.
- Implemented guided reading and mini-lesson strategies, boosting student engagement and comprehension.
- Maintained effective classroom management, fostering a positive learning environment for students.
- Collaborated with fellow teachers to design and implement a cohesive curriculum, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Coordinated and taught engaging courses for 25+ students in grades 2 through 9, including Zumba, arts and crafts, and science fun, fostering creativity and teamwork.
Special Education Assistant for students with Cognitive Disabilities
Sheboygan Area School District
Sheboygan
10.2014 - 06.2015
- Engaged 10+ students with cognitive and learning disabilities in tailored learning strategies, enhancing their educational experience.
- Collaborated with special education and regular education teachers to deliver comprehensive academic, social, and emotional support for 30+ students, fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Conducted assessments and tracked students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health to tailor instructional strategies and interventions for improved learning outcomes.
- Collaborated with fellow teachers to design and implement a cohesive curriculum that improved student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Facilitated basic life and social skills development, such as communication and teamwork, through practical applications, improving peer interactions and boosting student confidence.
- Farnsworth Middle School
Substitute Teacher
Sheboygan Area School District
Sheboygan
02.2013 - 10.2014
- Delivered lesson plans for up to 5 classrooms of students aged 4 to 12 in the absence of the regular teacher, ensuring continuity in learning.
- Maintained classroom discipline by implementing positive reinforcement strategies, which led to a 20% reduction in classroom disruptions and improved student engagement during lessons.
- Collaborated with teachers to design and implement cohesive curriculum, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Education, Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin Green Bay
Green Bay, WI01-2012
Associate of Arts and Science - General Education Courses
University of Wisconsin Sheboygan
Sheboygan, WI01-2009
Skills
- Curriculum knowledge and implementation
- Differentiated instruction
- Positive behavior support
- Classroom management
- Responsive classroom techniques
- Tech-integrated planning
- Creative lesson planning
- Parent engagement strategies
- Intervention collaboration
- Data-driven decisions
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Organizational skills
- Classroom organization
- Colleague collaboration
- Effective communication skills
- Positive relationship building
- Empathy in education
- Early childhood education
Certification
- 1777 - Regular Education Birth to Grade 3 Early Childhood
- 1777 - Regular Education Middle Childhood to Early Adolescence
Timeline
Four-year-old Kindergarten & Kindergarten Teacher
Milwaukee Public Schools
08.2023 - Current
Kindergarten Teacher
Milwaukee Public Schools
08.2018 - 06.2023
K4/K5 Split Grade Level Teacher
Calvary's Christian Academy
08.2017 - 06.2018
K4 and K5 Teacher
Institute of Technology and Academics
12.2015 - 08.2017
5th Grade Teacher
North Point Lighthouse Charter School
08.2015 - 11.2015
Special Education Assistant for students with Cognitive Disabilities
Sheboygan Area School District
10.2014 - 06.2015
Summer School Teacher
Sheboygan Area School District
06.2013 - 08.2015
Substitute Teacher
Sheboygan Area School District
02.2013 - 10.2014
Bachelor of Science - Education, Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin Green Bay
Associate of Arts and Science - General Education Courses
University of Wisconsin Sheboygan