Ava Pesante
West Caldwell,NJ
Summary
Passionate Early Childhood Teacher skilled in designing and implementing play-based curricula that promote critical thinking and social skills. Committed to creating safe, engaging environments while utilizing tailored assessments to support individual learning progress and strengthen family partnerships.
Overview
1
1
Certification
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Pre-K Associate Teacher
Montclair Community Pre-K
08.2025 - Current
- Plan and deliver a child-emergent, play-based curriculum that aligns with Pre-K learning goals and developmental needs.
- Created and maintained inclusive, engaging learning environment that fostered social-emotional growth and curiosity in students.
- Designed and facilitated hands-on center activities and projects promoting fine motor, language, and cognitive skills development.
- Designed and facilitated hands-on center activities and projects, promoting fine motor, language, and cognitive skills development.
- Supervise classroom of 16–20 five-year-olds, maintaining daily routines and classroom order in line with NJ licensing.
- Assessed students against Pre-K standards, monitored progress, and scaffold instruction to enhance learning outcomes.
- Communicated daily with families through in-person conversations and email to share student progress, behavior updates, and individualized learning plans.
Summer Camp Head Counselor
Camp Riverbend
07.2021 - Current
- Lead activities for 18 girls, ensuring safety and engagement with zero incidents recorded.
- Cultivated strong team dynamics among counselors, leading to improved communication, seamless activity execution, and a more cohesive camp community.
- Cultivated strong team dynamics among counselors, improving communication and activity execution for a cohesive camp community.
- Coordinated schedules to foster teamwork and enhance camp experience.
- Revitalized camp traditions to strengthen camper relationships and enrich overall camp experience. to boost morale and create an inclusive environment.
- Reimagine camp traditions with modern twists, creating a vibrant atmosphere that significantly boosted camper morale and inclusivity.
- Evaluated camper feedback to implement changes that increased camper satisfaction.
- Evaluate camper feedback to implement strategic changes for improved satisfaction.
Kids Club Associate
Equinox Gym
05.2019 - Current
- Supervised children aged 3 months-10 years, maintaining a safe, engaging environment and improving family satisfaction.
- Designed age-appropriate activities to support child development and foster community involvement.
- Implement safety protocols, ensuring compliance and reliability in childcare services.
- Streamlined communication with parents, promptly addressing concerns to build trust and enhance member experiences.
- Analyzed feedback to refine services, resulting in increased satisfaction and retention.
K-4 Associate Teacher
The Peck School
08.2023 - 08.2025
- Fostered inclusive learning environment, improving student engagement and comprehension.
- Implemented structured classroom routines, creating a consistent and productive learning environment for young students
- Lead Kindergarten classroom when head teacher was absent
- Guide personal growth, boosting confidence and social skills in young learners.
- Incorporate ASL in curriculum, enhancing communication and learning outcomes.
- Designed interactive storytelling sessions that improved language skills and sparked creativity in kindergarteners.
- Pioneered hands-on learning activities, encouraging curiosity and active participation among kindergarten students
- Designed creative learning experiences, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in K-4 students through interactive, activities.
- Partnered with teachers to refine lesson plans, resulting in improved student engagement and comprehension
- Cultivated partnerships with faculty and parents, aligning educational goals and strengthening the support system for student growth.
- Developed a safe space to support student learning and development., inclusive learning environment for each class and grade, nurturing social-emotional development and promoting empathy among K-4 students.
- Assesses and adapts teaching methods to meet academic standards, ensuring effective learning outcomes for K-4 students.
Nursery 3 Teaching Fellow
Far Brook School
08.2022 - 06.2023
- Designed hands-on activities for diverse learning styles, boosting engagement.
- Provided individualized student support, nurturing personal growth and building a positive, inclusive classroom atmosphere.
- Facilitated creative play sessions, inspiring curiosity and promoting exploration of concepts through imaginative activities.
- Mentored students in conflict resolution, cultivating a harmonious classroom environment and enhancing peer relationships.
- Implemented assessment tools to measure developmental milestones, ensuring tailored support and measurable student progress.
- Cultivated family partnerships to enhance student engagement and strengthen support within learning environment.
- Managed classroom operations during head teacher absence, maintaining consistent learning environment.
Student Teacher (3rd Grade)
Thelma L. Sandmeier School
09.2021 - 05.2022
- Designed interactive learning modules that adapted to diverse learning styles, significantly increasing student engagement.
- Designed interactive learning modules, adapting to diverse learning styles and boosting student engagement through creative teaching techniques
- Developed engagement tools that increased student participation and enthusiasm for learning.
- Created interactive resources that boosted student participation and fostered a love for learning.
- Implemented tailored educational strategies in collaboration with teachers and parents, enhancing student performance and personalizing learning experiences.
- Created an inclusive classroom environment that encouraged participation from all students. that promoted social skills and cultivated respect among 3rd grade students.
- Evaluated student progress and contributed insights during IEP meetings, ensuring optimal support for diverse educational needs and individual growth
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English and Education
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, New Jersey05-2022
Skills
- Tools of the Mind Curriculum
- Multiple Intelligences Curriculum
- early childhood education
- parent communication
- safety protocols
- creative problem solving
- conflict resolution
- engagement strategies
- Flexible and adaptive
- Parent-teacher conference coordination
- Parent and student communication
- Elementary education
- Student rapport
- Growth mindset
- Reporting and documentation
- Social-emotional learning
- Classroom management
- Instructional design
- child development
- classroom management
- curriculum design
- student assessment
Certification
CEAS, Orton-Gillingham Training, NJAIS Early Career Teacher Program, CPR
Extracaricular Activities
Leadership Work:
- Elizabethan Education Association, Publicist, Saint Elizabeth University, 2018-2022
- James Caldwell High School, Advocacy Club Leader, 2014-2018
- Saint Elizabeth University, Student Ambassador, 2018-2022
- Saint Elizabeth University, Student Ambassador Leader, 2021-2022
Volunteer Work:
- Montclair Animal Shelter, 2015
- Waverly Park Clean Up, Caldwell, NJ, 2014, 2018
References
Available Upon Request
Timeline
Pre-K Associate Teacher
Montclair Community Pre-K
08.2025 - Current
K-4 Associate Teacher
The Peck School
08.2023 - 08.2025
Nursery 3 Teaching Fellow
Far Brook School
08.2022 - 06.2023
Student Teacher (3rd Grade)
Thelma L. Sandmeier School
09.2021 - 05.2022
Summer Camp Head Counselor
Camp Riverbend
07.2021 - Current
Kids Club Associate
Equinox Gym
05.2019 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - English and Education
Saint Elizabeth University