Amy Shepherd
Oak Creek,WI
Summary
Focused education professional with master's degree in administration and experience helping students and staff achieve education goals. Talented at building lasting relationships and partnering with others to meet objectives.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Part-Time Undergraduate Instructor
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
01.2024 - Current
- Design and deliver dynamic and interactive lectures for Inclusive Classroom Teacher Education Program
- Support collaborative and inclusive classroom teaching environment, encouraging student participation and critical thinking
- Provide constructive feedback and support to students regarding pre-service teaching methods to facilitate academic growth.
Director of Early Learning
Racine Unified School District
Racine, WI
02.2018 - Current
- Supervise all District Early Learning General and Special Education Programs and Community Partners
- Reimagine and implement three-year-old kindergarten program to break down barriers for inclusion and enrollment leading to systemic change
- Manage DPI Technical Assistance Grant to support inclusion and success of students in Least Restrictive Setting
- Advise and provide support to principals on IEP implementation, student behavior and discipline
- Oversee creation and implementation of College and Career Ready IEPs as District LEA
- Support Multi Level Systems of Support for behavior
- Establish and implement behavior protocols and programs in schools
- Established culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering staff to voice their ideas.
- Create walk through tool to monitor fidelity of practices, increasing implementation to 80% fidelity
- Provide professional learning opportunities that are directly relevant to staff and immediately applicable
- Coordinate implementation of instruction with state and Federal regulatory agencies
- Align assessment, curriculum and professional learning across programs
- Develop systems to monitor and evaluate program effectiveness
- Act as building Principal and administrator overseeing daily operations, maintenance, and school building during 2018-2019 school year
- Cultivate positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Add $28,000 worth of diverse books to Early Learning Classrooms district wide
- Implement phonics-based curriculum showing 30% growth in student letter identification as compared to prior school year and decreased student achievement gaps
Montessori Program Manager
Racine Unified School District
Racine, WI
09.2016 - 09.2018
- Created vision for and implemented a new District Montessori program
- Developed and maintained logistics workflows, procedures and reports.
- Coached team members on professional development opportunities, contributing to improved overall performance.
- Identified program obstacles and communicated possible impacts to team.
- Researched best practices to inform planning process
- Developed relationships with mentors to assist in creating structure of program
- Attended Montessori administrator credential training
- Managed budget and oversaw daily operations of program, supported students and staff, and maintained budget
- Managed and supervised administrative and daily program operations, complying with policies and regulations.
- Recruited and retained teaching staff
- Evaluated teaching and support staff
- Aligned Montessori model with District-wide expectations and provided professional learning for staff.
Assistant Principal
Racine Unified School District
Racine, WI
09.2011 - 09.2018
- Provided daily support for teaching and support staff
- Created Parent and School Agreement for Parent Child-Oriented Classroom
- Maintained program budgets
- Facilitated monthly staff meetings and Crisis Team Meetings
- Conducted observations of 35 teaching and support staff and provided annual evaluations
- Collaborated with District staff to ensure implementation of developmentally appropriate practices and initiatives district wide
- Created and maintained a positive and nurturing school atmosphere for all staff
- Attended initial evaluation and annual IEP meetings as a district LEA
- Supported staff through creation of Student Learning Objectives, aligned with District-Wide Program Improvement Plan
- Facilitated grade level team meetings to collaborate around data collection and interpretation to drive student achievement
- Co-presented district-wide and building-wide professional learning for staff
- Used Teaching Preschool Observation Tool to coach Early Learning Staff on implementing Positive Solutions and Pyramid Model
Special Education Teacher
Racine Unified School District
Racine, WI
09.2006 - 09.2011
- Created and implemented developmentally appropriate lesson plans and programs for early childhood students with diverse needs
- Facilitated IEP meetings, collaborated with families, staff, and service providers
- Observed and assisted in the educational diagnosis of students with special education needs who may be eligible for Individual Education Plans
- Collaborated with families, school personnel, and community to implement the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Pilot Program
- Created learning opportunities for families and students within the school building and community.
Substitute Teacher
Milwaukee Public School District
Milwaukee, WI
09.2005 - 09.2006
- Carried out lesson plans for elementary and middle school age students
- Implemented Individual Education Plans
- Managed classroom learning experiences for students in absence of the teacher.
Education
Master of Arts - Administrative Leadership
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee07.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee05.2009
Bachelor of Science - Exceptional Education
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee06.2007
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee05.2005
Skills
- Subject Matter Expertise in Special Education
- Excellent Organizational and Problem-solving Skills
- Expertise Presenting to Diverse Audiences in Small and Large settings
- Deep understanding of IDEA legislation
- High-quality professional learning
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- School Improvement Planning
- Student Performance Data Analysis
Additional Information
- Early Literacy Steering Committee Co-Chair
- Seeking Education Equity and Diversity (SEED) Facilitator
- National Association of the Education of the Young Child Member
- Wisconsin Pyramid Model trained coach
- Kindergarten Readiness/Higher Expectations District Representative
- Cradle to Career Network Convening Presenter
- September 2019 Wisconsin Montessori Association Member
- Montessori Administrator Credential Training
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention District Trainer
- Co-presenter, Preserving Early Childhood Conference
- Certified Danielson Framework Trainer of Trainers for Racine Unified School District
- Teachscape 30 hour certification
Timeline
Part-Time Undergraduate Instructor
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
01.2024 - Current
Director of Early Learning
Racine Unified School District
02.2018 - Current
Montessori Program Manager
Racine Unified School District
09.2016 - 09.2018
Assistant Principal
Racine Unified School District
09.2011 - 09.2018
Special Education Teacher
Racine Unified School District
09.2006 - 09.2011
Substitute Teacher
Milwaukee Public School District
09.2005 - 09.2006
Master of Arts - Administrative Leadership
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bachelor of Science - Exceptional Education
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee