Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

ANDREW KELLY WALKER

Providence,RI

Summary

Motivated School Leader with commitment to equity and instructional excellence. Effective collaborator with great coaching and project management skills. Proven history of detail-oriented and data-driven instructional leadership centering inclusive and innovative pedagogy, student growth, and engagement.


Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Founding Principal

Achievement First Iluminar Middle School
05.2019 - Current
  • Acted as Founding Principal & School Leader of an innovative 5th-8th Grade school with 400+ students and 60+ staff members
  • Founded and scaled innovative Greenfield School model within Achievement First Network, centering project-based learning, standards-based grading and assessment, student discourse, and social emotional learning
  • Coached and empowered school leadership team comprised of Academic Deans, Dean of Student Experience, Dean of Expeditions & Enrichment, Dean of Special Services, and Director of School Operations
  • Trained and invested leaders in shift to new high quality instructional materials that support Science of Reading and rigorous, standards-based math and science instruction
  • Designed and led schoolwide Expeditions Program, allowing for repeated rounds of two-week career and enrichment exploration experiences, involving guest educators, field study, and culminating Expedition Showcase event attended by 800+ community members
  • Increased Reading & Math Proficiency 30% year-over-year on the state RICAS Exam
  • Scored highest absolute achievement on ELA Interim Assessment & STAR Reading Proficiency as SGP (student growth percentile) in Achievement First Network
  • Scored 93%+ Favorable on Family & Student Experience Panorama Pulse Surveys, maintaining results while scaling
  • Produced overall strongest MAP Science Assessment Growth in Achievement First Network
  • Scored in 80th Percentile Nationally on Gallup Organizational Health Survey pre-and-post Pandemic, resulting in 80%+ Teacher Retention and 90% Leader Retention
  • Led team through Covid-19 Pandemic, designed remote and hybrid instruction with instructional strategies profiled in the book “Teaching in the Online Classroom: Surviving & Thriving in the New Normal.”
  • Coached Dean of Special Services towards authentic compliance and development of strong co-teaching and Special Education Practices including strong robust Life Skills Curriculum
  • Collaborated with Director of School Operations & Facilities Team on the expansion of K-8 Building, including multi-phased, 65-million-dollar project to construct state-of-the-art enrichment wing and full-sized gymnasium
  • Provided skill development to deans on their development of 5th-8th Grade classroom teachers in all subjects
  • Acted as Mentor Principal to three Aspiring Principals through Center for Leadership and Educational Equity, providing mentorship, guidance, and feedback in leader’s transition into Principalship
  • Led daily school walk-throughs to maintain school wide vision, support school staff and students, and determine school wide action steps for following week
  • Utilized instructional data to assess progress towards school wide goals, identify gaps & drive improvements through weekly staff professional development training
  • Provided feedback to teachers on classroom culture and teacher-student interactions through weekly observations
  • Designed staff culture vision and facilitate targeted training programs that drive inclusion, belonging, and collective ownership over ensuring vision is successful
  • Facilitated repeated professional development on mindset reflection, anti-racist practices, identity, biases, and impact it has on interactions with colleagues, students, and families
  • Mediated conflict between staff on topics such as team dynamics, interacting across lines of difference, and working styles
  • Worked closely with recruitment team to hire diverse pool of mission-driven educators for school
  • Oversee interview processes and assess candidates for inclusive mindsets
  • Created consistent weekly communication with staff and families, maintained strong communication with AF Rhode Island Board of Directors
  • Acted as spokesperson and advocate for educational equity in Rhode Island attending Cranston City Planning Meetings, RIDE Panels, and speaking on behalf of AF Network.

Principal-in-Residence

Achievement First Endeavor Charter Middle School
07.2016 - 05.2019
  • Set goals, priorities, and instructional tactics for Reading, Writing, and History Departments acting as direct manager and instructional coach of 16 teachers
  • Led school to strongest overall proficiency growth in AF Network in ELA, increasing schoolwide ELA proficiency by 50%
  • Coached five teachers to achieve Achievement First’s highest honor of Master Teacher on Teacher Career Pathways and four teachers to achieve honor of Distinguished Teacher
  • Facilitate weekly coaching meetings centered on lesson internalization and data analysis for teachers in coaching portfolio
  • Designed and facilitated high-quality professional development for 60+ teachers around school’s instructional vision, proactive behavior management, classroom habits, and methods of building relationships with students across lines of difference
  • Co-Facilitated summer training for Achievement First New York Schools focused on strong Literacy Instruction, Lesson Engagement Strategies, and Data Driven Instruction
  • Work to implement weekly data cycle involving assessment, analysis, and instructional response
  • Analyzed weekly school culture and academic data and created short-term action plans for teachers/students in need of extra support to drive student learning
  • Conducted reading assessments and analyzed instructional data using STAR Reading & Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System & Regular Interim Assessments
  • Monitored and supported teachers in their completion of Data Driven Plans to support student learning.

ELA Teacher

Achievement First Endeavor Charter Middle School
07.2010 - 07.2016
  • Fostered love of reading and positive classroom environment as sixth grade reading and writing teacher
  • Led 45 percent year over year proficiency gains as measured by State of New York and “exemplar” growth gains
  • Honored as Achievement First Distinguished Teacher, measured by classroom observations, parent and student surveys, and student achievement results.

Curriculum Fellow

Achievement First Endeavor Charter Middle School
07.2012 - 07.2014
  • Developed monthly unit plans and aligned assessments for all sixth and seventh grade reading teachers in AF Network
  • Facilitated Day of Practice professional development sessions to review units and student work attended by teachers in AF Network.

Teacher-In-Residence

MATCH Charter Public Middle School
08.2009 - 07.2010
  • Served as full-time teacher-in-residence and academic tutor for sixth grade students in founding charter school.
  • Developed literacy and math tutorial materials, built relationships with student’s families, simultaneously completed AmeriCorps service requirement and Match Teacher Residency Program.

Research Intern

United South End Settlements
04.2008 - 08.2008
  • Completed demographic research and analysis for community development corporation’s strategic growth plan
  • Compiled updated database of Single Room Occupancies, Expiring Use Properties, and Chapter 40B residencies in Boston’s South End.

Office of Admissions, Senior Interviewer

Wesleyan University
10.2008 - 05.2009
  • Interviewed and assessed applicants for Wesleyan University Class of 2013.

Office of Residential Life, Residential Advisor

Wesleyan University
10.2006 - 07.2007
  • Promoted and upheld community standards and regulations within residence halls
  • Developed hall programs dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion and building community within residence halls.

Education

Master of Education, M.Ed -

Hunter College
City, New York

Bachelor of Arts - American Studies & Environmental Studies

Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
05.2009

International Study - Urban Planning

International Honors Program
Sao Paolo, Brazil, Cape Town, SA, Auckland, NZ
06.2008

Additional Information

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Activities: Alumni Interviewer Wesleyan University, Wesleyan Men’s Varsity Swim Team (Member, 2005-2009); Wesleyan Club Sailing Team (Founder/Captain, 2005-2009); Wesleyan University Tour Guide, Cycling, Marathons.

Certifications: Certified as a Massachusetts State High School English Teacher; Certified as a New York State Middle School Generalist Teacher

Timeline

Founding Principal

Achievement First Iluminar Middle School
05.2019 - Current

Principal-in-Residence

Achievement First Endeavor Charter Middle School
07.2016 - 05.2019

Curriculum Fellow

Achievement First Endeavor Charter Middle School
07.2012 - 07.2014

ELA Teacher

Achievement First Endeavor Charter Middle School
07.2010 - 07.2016

Teacher-In-Residence

MATCH Charter Public Middle School
08.2009 - 07.2010

Office of Admissions, Senior Interviewer

Wesleyan University
10.2008 - 05.2009

Research Intern

United South End Settlements
04.2008 - 08.2008

Office of Residential Life, Residential Advisor

Wesleyan University
10.2006 - 07.2007

Master of Education, M.Ed -

Hunter College

Bachelor of Arts - American Studies & Environmental Studies

Wesleyan University

International Study - Urban Planning

International Honors Program

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