Amy Phinney
Hyde Park,MA
Summary
Highly motivated Elementary Education teacher and Mindfulness Expert. Contemplative, organized, flexible, and hardworking. Creating positive learning experiences for all students, furthering them in each discipline as well as fostering a spirit of compassion and positivity using anti-racist pedagogy.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
4th & 5th Grade Teacher
Needham Public Schools
08.2020 - Current
- General education classroom teacher of fourth and fifth grade students
- Provide warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social, and emotional growth
- Experience looping with same cohort of students with high social-emotional needs and behavioral supports from 4th-5th
- Planned instruction using district curriculum across content areas, as well as supplementing materials based on student needs
- Strong classroom management rooted in SEL and fostering positive relationships and safe learning environments for all students
- Piloting new curriculum programs in math, science, social studies and literacy
- Critical, anti-racist lens to improve existing curricula and provide feedback to district leaders
- Utilizing and supplementing SEL program (Second Step) as a foundation for rooting instruction in social-emotional competencies
- Collecting data and evaluating student progress from a variety of lenses
- Experience with hybrid teaching including delivering and modifying instruction, creating materials, lesson planning, collaboration with colleagues virtually and in-person
- Close collaboration and communication with families in various levels of distress during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Improved student comprehension by incorporating hands-on activities and real-world examples in lessons.
Long Term Substitute - Grade 4
Newton Public Schools
03.2020 - 06.2020
- Taking over a classroom of fourth grade students with various intellectual and social/emotional needs during an unprecedented time with an abrupt, unexpected shift to an online learning platform
- Incorporated technology into learning to enhance student engagement and learning
- Created online SEL curriculum to support social and emotional wellbeing of students and their families across the grade level
- Facilitated whole-class and small group online meetings, providing daily feedback on student work, regular communication with families and individual parents/students, consistent one on one check-ins with each student, monitoring progress in each content area, assessing the wellbeing of students from, modifying online learning lessons and delivery of instruction for special education students, and collaboration with special educators, English language instructors and grade-level teams.
- Increased overall class participation by fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment.
Educational Support Professional - all grade levels
Countryside Elementary School
08.2018 - 03.2020
- Assisted elementary students (1-5) with behavior management, social-emotional competencies, and accessing grade-level content
- Worked 1:1 and small-group with children with ASD, ADHD, mood disorders, dyslexia, developmental delays, and sensory-processing issues
- Modifying curricula to meet individual student learning goals and IEP accommodations
- Assisting in whole class instruction and classroom management, leading small group lessons as well as providing appropriate 1:1 supports to students in crisis
- Implementing mindfulness-based interventions aiding students in self-regulation, sustained attention, emotional awareness, social skills, and academic work to increase independence during structured and unstructured activities throughout the school day
- Collecting daily behavioral data collection and home logs
- Participating in weekly consults with BCBA and/or educational support team to discuss student progress, IEP updates, create behavioral support plans, share new programs and strategies, and review data
- Creating and implementing modified content and assessment strategies
- Contributing to a school-wide behavior intervention plan.
- Collaborated with teachers to identify students'' unique needs and develop targeted interventions
Education
Master of Arts in Mindfulness Studies -
Lesley University
Cambridge, MABachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Reading
Westfield State University
Westfield, MASkills
- Safe, Positive Learning Environment
- Multitasking and Organization
- Interactive Learning
- Collaborative Teamwork
- Cooperative Learning Experience
- Curriculum Development
Certification
- Responsive Classroom Training
- Mindfulness for Everyone (MFE) Teacher Training
Leadership And Professional Development
- Professional Development Leader, Sense of Belonging in School: Facilitated conversation and ongoing work around planning to help students feel a sense of belonging based on district-wide data collection on student success in school, with a focus on METCO students and students of color
- Math Implementation Team [Spring 2023 - present]: A vertically-aligned team of teachers across the district working collaboratively and reflectively to develop, enact, and monitor a curriculum implementation plan for Illustrative Math across all of Needham’s elementary schools in partnership with our Implementation Consultant and Grant Evaluator
- EDUC 648: Oppression & Education [Spring 2022]: A 3-credit graduate course studying the theory, practice and manifestation of oppression in our educational system and beyond. Learning, analyzing and critiquing various educational methods and techniques of combating oppression.
- Racial Literacy Task Force: Working with a team of teachers across the district to reflect and build upon experiences with the new Racial Literacy curriculum, drafting curriculum map for racial literacy, science and social studies, collaborating with and across grade levels to create and revise instructional materials.
- Mindful Teaching Internship, Mindfulness as Social Engagement: A 150-hour integration of theoretical perspectives and formal mindfulness practice with social engagement, as interns serving in community settings. Completed at two elementary schools implementing mindfulness lessons with students in grades one through five over a fifteen-week period.
- Professional Development Leader, Mindfulness in Education: Created and facilitated a two-hour workshop for elementary educators interested in implementing mindfulness in their daily lives and classroom routines
References
- Colleen Soldato, Mitchell Elementary School, 5th Grade Teacher, 781-455-0466 x 55021, colleen_soldato@needham.k12.ma.us
- Linda Hillery, Mitchell Elementary School, Literacy Coach, 781-455-0466, linda_hillery@needham.k12.ma.us
- Lindsey Sawyer, Newman Elementary School, Math Coach, 781-445-0416, lindsey_sawyer@needham.k12.ma.us
- Andrew Kelly, The Boston Buddha, Mindfulness Teacher, 617-922-9810, andy@thebostonbuddha.com
Timeline
4th & 5th Grade Teacher
Needham Public Schools
08.2020 - Current
Long Term Substitute - Grade 4
Newton Public Schools
03.2020 - 06.2020
Educational Support Professional - all grade levels
Countryside Elementary School
08.2018 - 03.2020
Master of Arts in Mindfulness Studies -
Lesley University
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Reading
Westfield State University
- Responsive Classroom Training
- Mindfulness for Everyone (MFE) Teacher Training
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