Ashton Benjamin

As a Reading Interventionist, I delivered tiered instruction geared towards supporting non-fluent readers in ELA and preparing kids for high school and college level discussion through the reading, annotation, Socratic Seminar, and more. My responsibilities included:

• Created positive and engaging environment in classroom that encouraged literacy skills.
• Boosted student fluency rates by utilizing effective instructional strategies during small group instruction.
• Supported struggling readers through individualized interventions and progress monitoring, leading to improved reading levels.
• Contributed to school-wide literacy initiatives by participating in committees focused on curriculum development, assessment practices, and teacher training programs.
• Enhanced reading comprehension by implementing guided reading groups and targeted literacy instruction.
• Increased student motivation by incorporating diverse texts and engaging activities in lesson plans.
• Promoted critical thinking skills through the use of higher-level questioning techniques during class discussions and written assignments.
• Led after-school tutoring sessions for struggling readers, providing additional support and targeted practice opportunities for skill improvement.
• Served as a mentor for new teachers, providing guidance on effective teaching strategies and classroom management techniques.
• Promoted love of reading and literacy to all students.
• Interpreted student assessment data to ascertain best intervention methods.
• Facilitated small group discussions to encourage critical thinking and discussion.
• Supported English Language Learners by providing reading materials in their first language and tailored support.
• Participated in parent-teacher conferences to discuss individual student progress and areas for improvement.
• Improved reading comprehension skills with targeted literacy interventions.
• Guided students in making connections between texts and their own experiences to enhance comprehension.
• Assessed student progress regularly using various assessment tools, adjusting instructional strategies as needed to maximize learning outcomes.

As a Dean of Literacy, I spearheaded all the literacy dominant contents like Reading, Writing, and Social Studies. My responsibilities included:

• Coached a cohort of 13 teachers and observed their classes weekly, engaging in active coaching, and debriefing with them regularly to help develop best practices around instruction, differentiation, and behavior management.
• Metwith teachers and leaders weekly to discuss student data and craft professional development and practice clinics around areas of focus indicated from data dives.
• Managed the dyslexia case load at this campus as well as the RtI (Response to Intervention) program.
• Facilitated data-driven decision making by utilizing assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
• Streamlined administrative processes for increased efficiency, resulting in reduced workload for faculty members.
• Served as an advocate for departmental needs by effectively communicating with upper-level administration, securing resources necessary for continuous growth and improvement.
• Managed budgetary responsibilities effectively, ensuring proper allocation of funds to support essential operations and growth opportunities.
• Advanced diversity initiatives by prioritizing inclusive hiring practices, fostering an equitable learning environment, and promoting cultural competence among staff members.
• Supervised admissions programs, student recruitment and retention.
• Implemented initiatives to drive curriculum quality and target learning outcomes.
• Improved student retention rates by implementing comprehensive academic advising services and support systems.
• Promoted a culture of excellence within the department through regular recognition of outstanding achievements by faculty members.
• Enhanced department performance by implementing innovative teaching strategies and curriculum development methods.
• Recruited, hired and trained academic faculty and staff members.
• Launched new academic programs that addressed emerging trends and market demands, ensuring continued relevance for graduates entering the workforce.
• Increased faculty engagement by organizing professional development workshops and promoting mentorship opportunities within the department.
• Improved faculty performance and job satisfaction through introduction of continuous professional development programs.
• Coordinated with department heads to ensure alignment of academic goals with institutional strategies.
• Elevated academic standards and student success rates by redesigning curriculum frameworks and assessment methods.
• Enhanced campus diversity and inclusion with implementation of comprehensive policies and programs.
• Advocated for student needs, leading to development of comprehensive support services and resources.
• Improved policies and procedures to maximize student safety and campus security.
• Spearheaded technology initiatives to support student learning and academic excellence.

• As Literacy Specialist, my priority is to advocate for ELL dyslexic students, and struggling readers ensuring their progression in the reading, writing, speaking and listening of the English language. My responsibilities included:
• Provided additional one-to-one support to these students both in and out the classroom, allowing them time to master language development skills.
• Served as the campus LPAC Administrator, head of the LPAC committee and LEP Coordinator, overseeing the campus's bilingual and dual language program, managing and training educators in this department on innovative, inclusive, and differentiated educational practices.
• Enhanced student learning by collaborating with teachers to develop differentiated instruction strategies.
• Implemented research-based approaches such as guided reading groups to deliver differentiated instruction tailored to individual learner needs.
• Provided targeted professional development opportunities for teachers on literacy instruction techniques and strategies.
• Evaluated the effectiveness of literacy programs through ongoing data analysis, making adjustments as needed to maximize results.
• Led book clubs that challenged students to think critically about texts while fostering an appreciation for different genres, authors, and perspectives.
• Contributed to a culture of continuous improvement by participating in professional learning communities focused on refining instructional strategies and enhancing student outcomes.
• Facilitated peer coaching initiatives among educators to enhance collective expertise in teaching various aspects of reading and writing skills.
• Acted as a resource for colleagues, sharing best practices and innovative approaches to teaching reading and writing skills across the curriculum.
• Fostered a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and encouraging open communication among students, staff, and parents.
• Utilized assessment data to inform instructional decisions, continuously monitoring student growth toward grade-level benchmarks.
• Improved literacy rates by implementing targeted reading interventions and assessments for struggling students.
• Promoted a love for reading by creating engaging thematic units based on high-interest topics and diverse literature selections.
• Boosted reading comprehension skills by integrating vocabulary development and text analysis activities into daily lessons.
• Coordinated efforts with special education teams to ensure seamless integration of accommodations for students with diverse learning needs within the general education setting.
• Served as a mentor for new teachers, providing guidance and support in developing effective literacy instruction practices.
• Assessed literacy needs of school by reviewing student data and current curriculum.
• Conducted ongoing evaluations of literacy improvement action and communicated results to teachers and administrators.

As a Content Leader I designed regionally shared lesson plans, assessments, instructional calendars and unit plans that gave intention to varied learning and internalization styles and lead the training of educators and facilitators system wide. My responsibilities included:

• Consistently met tight deadlines while managing multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively.
• Managed content distribution to online channels and social media platforms.
• Edited and proofread all written materials, maintaining a high standard of grammar and style consistency.
• Approved, reviewed and edited content flowing to website.
• Collaborated with designers and developers to deliver on-brand content in alignment with brand vision.
• Presented monthly reports on key performance metrics to senior management, providing insights into areas requiring attention.
• Conducted regular content audits to identify gaps and redundancies of content.
• Edited and proofread content for accuracy and readability.
• Utilized analytics and site metrics to determine areas of improvement.
• Conducted research and collaborated with subject matter experts to develop accurate content.
• Developed a comprehensive content calendar for consistent publishing and improved audience engagement.
• Developed an efficient content management system for streamlined organization and easy accessibility of digital assets.
• Led content team in brainstorming sessions that resulted in innovative campaign ideas.
• Conducted content audits to identify gaps and opportunities, leading to more focused and effective content strategy.
• Implemented user feedback system for content improvement, leading to more relevant and impactful articles.

As a Content Facilitator, my responsibilities included the following:

• Built rapport with diverse groups of stakeholders by demonstrating empathy, active listening skills, and cultural competence during facilitated sessions.
• Fostered an inclusive learning environment by addressing diverse needs and adapting facilitation techniques as needed.
• Delivered high-quality training sessions, ensuring participants developed a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
• Increased participant engagement by incorporating interactive activities and group discussions into sessions.
• Identified areas in need of improvement and implemented solutions.
• Promoted continuous learning within the organization by sharing best practices and lessons learned from various facilitation experiences.
• Enhanced program effectiveness by collaborating with colleagues to review and revise curriculum content regularly.
• Provided constructive feedback to participants during debriefing sessions, fostering personal growth and skill development.
• Led virtual training sessions using web-based platforms while maintaining high levels of participant interaction and engagement throughout the event duration.
• Conducted post-event evaluations to gather feedback and implement improvements for future sessions.
• Implemented feedback mechanisms to continuously improve quality and relevance of programs offered.
• Tailored facilitation styles to accommodate virtual and in-person settings, ensuring consistent engagement levels.
• Improved client satisfaction by tailoring facilitation techniques to meet diverse group needs.
• Coordinated with multiple stakeholders to align on objectives and outcomes for large-scale facilitation projects.

Over the last year I have produced more volunteers at TIRR Memorial Hermann than they have historically ever had. My responsibilities and duties include the following:

• Recruited and trained new volunteers on volunteer program goals and objectives.
• Coordinated large-scale events involving multiple teams of volunteers, resulting in successful fundraisers and community outreach initiatives.
• Provided ongoing support to volunteers throughout their tenure, addressing any concerns or issues promptly to ensure satisfaction and commitment to the organization''s goals.
• Established strong relationships with local organizations, fostering collaboration and expanding volunteer opportunities.
• Organized recognition events to show appreciation for volunteer contributions, boosting morale and promoting a positive organizational culture.
• Maintained regular communication with volunteers through newsletters, social media updates, and personal check-ins, keeping them engaged and informed about upcoming opportunities.
• Managed and tracked volunteer hours and progress to support accurate documentation.
• Developed comprehensive training materials to ensure volunteers were well-prepared for their roles.
• Developed and maintained volunteer database, facilitating effective communication and scheduling.
• Led volunteer appreciation events, fostering sense of community and belonging among participants.
• Organized large-scale fundraising events, raising significant funds for community projects.
• Managed a database of over 200 volunteers, ensuring accurate record-keeping and easy access to information when needed.
• Fostered partnerships with local organizations, expanding volunteer opportunities and community impact.