Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Accomplishments and Awards
Publications
Additional Information
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Aytaged Zeleke

Claymont,Delaware
Aytaged  Zeleke

Summary

Passionate Instructor offering over 25 years of background teaching courses to students of varying abilities (i.e., elementary to graduate levels). Recognized for delivering meaningful, interactive and maintaining a classroom environment conducive to learning. In-depth understanding of different learning techniques and tools. Willing to go the extra mile to help students, friends, and colleagues. Talented in using diversity as a resource to support students learning; skilled in data-driven instruction to enhance students learning.

Overview

27
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

Delaware Technical & Community College

Instructor
08.2013 - Current

Job overview

  • Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and consistent classroom management techniques.
  • Applied various teaching aids to minimize learning gaps and instruct and motivate students.
  • Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on educational trends and enhance teaching effectiveness.
  • Evaluated student assessments to identify areas of growth and improvement, adjusting instructional strategies accordingly.
  • Observed and adopted new techniques from skilled instructors and lecturers.
  • Tested students to assess progress and adapted learning plans in alignment with performance.
  • Optimized day-to-day instruction to align educational strategies with industry best practices.
  • Reviewed class and student records to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning.
  • Organized extracurricular activities that enriched students'' educational experience beyond the classroom setting.
  • Tracked student progress, frequently checking in with struggling students and identifying root causes of problems.
  • Boosted student performance by providing individualized support and targeted feedback.
  • Initiated new learning methods, eliminating instructional gaps and improving comprehension.

Kotebe Education University

Secretary of the International Advi Board
08.2023 - Current

Job overview

  • Supports the Board's mission to provide strategic advice on international partnerships and educational development initiatives for Kotebe Education University.
  • Manages Board operations by preparing meeting agendas and minutes, facilitating communication among Board members, and supporting the Board Chair.
  • Contribute as a member of the board to the following priorities of the university:

Staff Development
a) Innovative pedagogy
b) Research and publication
c) Grant writing and resource mobilization ( helped generate one proposal and submitted to the American Embassy in Addis Ababa (funding allocated to the embassy by the U.S government) and waiting for the result of the funding application; two other proposals are in the process with other three committee members )
d) Language proficiency and academic writing
e) Pedagogical technology use
f) Student assessment
Internationalization
a) Staff exchange
b) Joint research and publication
c) Collaborative project
d) Joint programs
e) Hosting postdoc, visiting researchers/professors
Teacher Education Programs
a) Reforming curriculum and approaches
b) Continuous professional learning
English Language Improvement
Improving teachers' and students’ language proficiency
Education Leadership
Leading for learning

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Delaware State University
08.2012 - 07.2013

Job overview

  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
  • Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
  • Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
  • Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed.
  • Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Addis Ababa University

Lecturer and Researcher
09.2002 - 12.2011

Job overview

  • Cultivated critical thinking skills through challenging assignments that required analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of information from various sources.
  • Developed strong relationships with colleagues, collaborating on curriculum development and sharing best practices in teaching strategies.
  • Evaluated student progress through regular assessments, providing detailed feedback for improvement and growth.
  • Selected and designed lesson plans and curriculum to meet academic objectives.
  • Collaborated with faculty and staff to create meaningful learning experiences.
  • Participated in conferences and professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date with latest trends in field.
  • Arranged syllabus, developed schedule, and determined reading list for varied courses simultaneously, giving students appropriate time to complete assignments and absorb information.
  • Created and designed quizzes, tests and projects to assess student knowledge.
  • Provided individualized support for struggling learners, using tutoring sessions and additional resources to close achievement gaps.
  • Contributed to departmental meetings by sharing insights on effective teaching strategies and proposing solutions for addressing common challenges faced by faculty members.
  • Promoted collaboration among students through group projects and presentations, fostering teamwork and communication skills.
  • Managed large class sizes effectively, maintaining an orderly learning environment conducive to student success.
  • Led seminars and workshops to facilitate student learning and engagement and increase memory retention.
  • Implemented instructional technologies in course delivery to engage and educate students.
  • Conducted individual research projects to actively contribute to institution's research work.
  • Participated and led committee meetings to remain aware of developments in subject.
  • Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current with industry trends and continuously improve instructional approaches.
  • Built strong rapport with students through class discussions and academic advisement.
  • Met with students to dispense study and career advice and provide guidance and potential opportunities within chosen field.
  • Developed semester outlines and instructional plans for each class session to comply with stated course objectives.
  • Created syllabus and instructional plans for each class session in accordance with stated course objectives.
  • Interpreted data analysis results to draw inferences and conclusions.
  • Developed data collection strategies and monitored data quality for optimal research results.
  • Developed research proposals, identified research objectives and created research plans.
  • Synthesized data and wrote detailed reports to present research findings to stakeholders.
  • Mentored junior researchers, fostering a positive learning environment and promoting professional development.
  • Managed multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.
  • Designed experiments with rigorous controls to ensure validity and reliability of findings.
  • Maintained detailed records of experimental procedures, observations, and results for accurate reporting and replication purposes.
  • Contributed to policy development based on evidence-based recommendations from extensive research analysis.
  • Utilized statistical packages to analyze data and create visualizations.
  • Presented research findings at national and international conferences, raising the profile of the institution.
  • Identified sources of funding to prepare research proposals and submit funding applications.
  • Secured funding for critical research projects through persuasive grant writing and effective networking.
  • Applied ethical considerations throughout all stages of the research process, safeguarding participant welfare and data integrity.
  • Published high-impact articles in peer-reviewed journals, enhancing the reputation of the organization.
  • Worked as member of integrated project team in highly collaborative work environment.
  • Participated in various campus memberships at each assigned school to promote academics and faculty development.
  • Gathered and organized information for research purposes.
  • Wrote research papers, reports, reviews, and summaries on ELT/ESL, education, assessment and evaluation, educational technology, educational leadership, higher education, and teacher education.
  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to conduct comprehensive studies and generate valuable insights.

Micro Link Information Technology

Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer
09.2000 - 02.2004

Job overview

Instructed students at Micro Link Information Technology College ( this was a joint appointment while I was a graduate student and working for other higher education institutions mentioned).
• Conducted office hours for individual consultations with students
regarding their academic progress or other issues related to
the course material.
• Reviewed student submissions of essays, projects, and reports for accuracy, clarity, and coherence.
• Participated in departmental meetings to provide input on current initiatives.
• Prepared lecture notes, handouts, and supplemental materials for courses.
• Attended conferences and workshops related to teaching
methodologies.
• Designed and implemented assessment strategies such as quizzes, exams, and assignments to evaluate student progress.

Unity University

Assistant Lecture to Lecturer III
09.2000 - 01.2004

Job overview

I instructed students at Unity University ( this was a joint appointment while I was a graduate student and working for the other higher education institutions mentioned).

• See the above job descriptions as they were similar.

Alemaya University

Graduate Assistant and Assistant Lecture
09.1997 - 08.2002

Job overview


  • Coordinated the language lab at Alemaya University.
  • Maintained an up-to-date knowledge of educational trends
    by reading scholarly journals.
  • Evaluated student performance through grading tests, papers, or other assessments.
  • Participated in team meetings or committees to discuss ideas
    regarding instruction.
  • Maintained office hours to provide direct contact with students or clarify course material or course content.

The University sponsored me to pursue my graduate studies while maintaining active employment.

Defense Engineering Colllege

Assistant Lecturer
06.1997 - 09.1997

Job overview

  • Taught Freshman English at Defense Engineering College.
    • Prepared lecture notes, handouts, and supplemental materials for courses.
    • Provided feedback on student work promptly

ETS

International Test Administration Experience
02.2002 - 12.2011

Job overview

Test Administrator:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (Years)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
    Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Different Organizations

Consultancy Experience
09.2006 - 12.2011

Job overview

Self Help Africa :

  • Team leader for needs assessment project.
  • Team member for monitoring and evaluation.
  • Delivered short-term trainings on leadership, gender mainstreaming, business communication, and conflict management.

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO)


  • Translated training documents.
  • Led research team for monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS training programs.
  • National Pedagogical Resource Center for Higher Education (Years)Managed, developed, and evaluated workshops and conferences on teaching and learning.
    Managed publications of conference proceedings and reports.
    Wrote grant proposals and produced financial/technical reports.
  • Federal Ministry of Water and Energy & BARR Foundation (Years)Assistant researcher for developing a national cookstove program document and implementation plan.
    Organized a national conference on biomass fuel implementation.

Education

University of Delaware
Newark, DE

Doctor of Education from Educational Leadership
08.2024

University Overview

Expected August 2024

  • Dissertation: Charting the Path Forward in Academic Advising at Delaware Technical Community College: Faculty Advisors' Views on Non-Academic Data Utilization and Influential Factors | University of Delaware, Newark, DE
  • I have taken 30 credits above the required courses for my doctoral program in Instructional Technology and education-related courses from other graduate programs.

University Of Oslo
Oslo , Norway

M.Phil. from Comparative And International Education
02.2009

Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa

Master of Arts from TEFL/ESL
06.2001

Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa

Bachelor of Arts from English Education And Literature
06.1997

Kotebe College of Education
Addis Ababa

Associate of Arts from English Education
09.1993

Skills

  • Strong Communication Skills
  • Public Speaking
  • Class Instruction
  • Understanding of learning styles
  • Curriculum Development
  • Lesson Planning
  • Ability to motivate students
  • Expertise in subject matter
  • Continuous professional development
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • Student Engagement
  • Classroom Management
  • Online Teaching Experience
  • Technology Integration
  • Student Evaluation
  • Progress Evaluations
  • Multicultural Sensitivity
  • Project-based learning implementation
  • Cultural Sensitivity
  • Instructional Design Knowledge
  • Active learning promotion
  • Curriculum Design
  • Student Counseling
  • Academic advisement
  • Student-centered learning focus
  • Problem-Solving
  • Positive Learning Environment
  • Positive Reinforcement
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Online Teaching
  • Classroom Technology
  • Google Classroom
  • Program Design
  • Instructional Materials Creation

Accomplishments

● Graduate Students' Research Grant from Addis Ababa University (2001)
● Research Grant for Young Academic Staff from Addis Ababa University (2010)
● Research Grant for Academic Staff from SIDA through Addis Ababa University (2011)

Team Research Grant from DFID through the National Pedagogical
and Resource Center for Higher Education (2006 & 2009)
● Team Research Grant from the World Bank (2005)
● Postgraduate Scholarship from Alemaya University to pursue
M.A degree in TEFL at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (1999-2001)
● Postgraduate Scholarship from the Norwegian Government to Pursue

M.Phil. degree in CIE at the University of Oslo, Norway (2006-2009)

Certification

Selected Short Term Training
● Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) organized
by the British Council.
● Certificate in Quality Assurance organized by the Netherlands' Project
on Educational Quality Improvement Program in Higher Education
● Certificate in Instructional Skills organized by the Netherlands' Project
on Educational Quality Improvement Program in Higher Education
● Certificate in Strategic Publishing Organized by African Journals on
Line (AJOL), South Africa and Addis Ababa University
● Certificate in Using I clicker in the Classroom, Delaware State University.

Accomplishments and Awards

Awards for education, research and publications 

Publications

PUBLICATION AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
· Commentary: Cracks in the system: Unearthing part of the mysteries behind Ethiopia's
national exam catastrophe. Published by Addis Fortune (Nov
2023). https://addisstandard.com/commentary-cracks-in-the-systemunearthing-
part-of-the-mysteries-behind-ethiopias-national-exam-catastrophe/
● A Reflection on Using a Cognitive Strategy with Selected Struggling Readers to Create
Equitable Reading Comprehension Opportunity (Fall 2023). Maryland TESOL.
https://www.marylandtesol.com/page-18234.
● Faculty Research Engagement Policy Issues in the Community College Setting (under
review).
● The relationship between high stakes testing and curriculum in USA schools ((under
review).
● Assessing International Students Holistic Educational Growth in Higher Education: ESL
Students in Focus Assessing International Students Holistic Educational Growth
in Higher Education: ESL Students in Focus. Journal of Literature, Linguistics
and Language · Jun 20, 2021.
https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JLLL/article/view/57091
● Summary and Reflection on Literacy Development in Successful Men and Women with
Dyslexia published by TEFL.NET.A Reflection and Summary on Dyslexia (Feb
2021)
● Assessing International Students Holistic Educational Growth in Higher Education: ESL
Students in Focus. Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Language · Jun 20,
2021.
● Summary & Reflection on Sharing Children' Narrative Styles and Differen tial Access to
Literacy published by TEFL.NET. Sharing Time in Narration (Feb 2021).
● A lesson plan suggestion to teach academic comparison and contrast essays
(September 2018) published by TEFL. NET.
https://www.tefl.net/elt/ideas/writing-ideas/teach-academic-comparison-andcontrast/
● A Summary and a Reflection on an ESL Reading Book Published in TESOL
International Association ‘s Reading and Vocabulary Interest Group. An ESL
reading Book Review (2021)
● A call for a leadership change in Ethiopian higher education. Published by the Ethiopian
Journal of Education (2016).
● Characteristics of effective leaders as viewed from structural, human resource, and
political lenses and their implications to teaching and learning. Published by
Graduate school of Education, Penn (University of Pennsylvania) (2018).
● Human Capital Flight: Why are the Ethiopian Higher Education Faculties Studying in
Norwegian Universities Remain in Exile? Published in International Journal of
University Teaching and Faculty Development, NOVA, USA 2013.

.
● A Comparative Study on the Practice of Continuous Assessment between Addis Ababa
and Unity Universities. Published in Educational Research and Review 2013.
● Does Viewing Test Items at Different Times Matter in English for Academic Purpose
Test? Published in Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods 2013.
● Continuous Professional Development Programs for Higher Education in Ethiopia:
Views, Perceived Needed Competencies, and Organization in Focus. Published
in Greener Journal of Educational Research (2012).
● Establishing Instructors' Teaching Support Center in Ethiopian Higher Education:
International Experience, Quality Assurance, Factors Affecting Planning and
Implementation. Published in the IER Flambeau, Addis Ababa University (2010).
● Exploring Staff Development Models for Academic Staff in Ethiopian Higher Education.
A paper presented in the National Conference Organized by the Institute of
Educational Research, Addis Ababa University (2009).
● The Effects of Globalization on Education: Some Comparative Instances from
Norwegian and Ethiopian Education. A paper presented in BI Norwegians
Business School (2007).
● A Reflection on micro–Teaching Sessions: When is what I Think Justified by My
Practice? Published in the IER Flambeau, Addis Ababa University (2007).
● Where Should Ethiopia's Higher Education be Going and how Might it Change to Meet
the Country's Developmental Needs? Summary of the Proceedings of the
National Conference Held in the school of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa
University (Daniel Desta, Wossenu Yimam, Aytaged Sisay, Tesfaye Haile (2006)
published by the Institute of Educational Research AAU.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=7Sg0yt
wAAAAJ&citation_for_view=7Sg0ytwAAAAJ:hqOjcs7Dif8C
● The Trainers' Dilemmas in the practice of Microteaching. Presented in the 16 Annual
Conference of the Institute of Language Studies, Addis Ababa University (2005) .
● Exploring Staff Development Models for Academic Staff in Ethiopian Higher Education.
A paper presented in a National Conference Organized by the Institute of
Educational Research, Addis Ababa University (2009).
● The place of Cooperation in the Present Assessment Modalities of College English I& II.
Presented in the 14th Annual Conference of the Institute of Language Studies,
Addis Ababa University and published in the proceedings (2004).
● Reflection on the Quality of Impromptu Speech as an oral performance Test. A paper
presented in a conference organized by the Institute of Educational Research
and published in the IER Flambeau, Addis Ababa University (2008) .
● Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Education in Ethiopian Higher
Education, funded by the World Bank (A team Research) (2010).
● The Effects of Globalization on Education: Some Comparative Instances from
Norwegian and Ethiopian Education Systems (2007).
● The Ethiopian National Pedagogical Resource Center for Higher Education: What shall
be its Future? Views of Stakeholders and Recommendations (2004) .
● The Hangover of Traditional Assessment on Implementing the New Assessment Policy
in Higher Education Institutions. Presented in a National Conference organized
by Higher Education Strategy Center and Institute of Educational Research
(2005).
● The Effect of Placing Test Items in Different positions in a Listening comprehension
Test: Unity College in focus. Presented in the 4th Language Symposium at
Kotebe College of Teachers' Education and a paper accepted to be presented in
the 2004 Applied Linguistics Colloquium Tokyo, Japan.
● Evaluating Test Items: The case of Harar Senior Secondary School. Presented in the
Conference organized by the Institute of Language Studies at Addis Ababa
University and published in the proceedings of the 12th Annual conference of
the Institute of Language Studies (2000)
● Relationship between Classroom Participation and Achievement. Presented in the first
Ethiopian Language Teachers' Annual Conference Organized by the Ethiopian
ELT teachers' Association and the British Council (2001).
● Testing: Some points to Ponder Over. An Article Appeared in the News Letter of the
Alemaya University (1998)

Additional Information

Ethiopia,

  • Spain,
  • France,
  • Belgium,
  • Norway,
  • Denmark,
  • Abu Dubai,
  • Yemen,
  • Dubai
  • Canada,
  • Mexico,
  • Dominican Republic,
  • Colombia &
  • USA

Timeline

Secretary of the International Advi Board

Kotebe Education University
08.2023 - Current

Instructor

Delaware Technical & Community College
08.2013 - Current

Delaware State University

Adjunct Assistant Professor
08.2012 - 07.2013

Consultancy Experience

Different Organizations
09.2006 - 12.2011

Lecturer and Researcher

Addis Ababa University
09.2002 - 12.2011

International Test Administration Experience

ETS
02.2002 - 12.2011

Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer

Micro Link Information Technology
09.2000 - 02.2004

Assistant Lecture to Lecturer III

Unity University
09.2000 - 01.2004

Graduate Assistant and Assistant Lecture

Alemaya University
09.1997 - 08.2002

Assistant Lecturer

Defense Engineering Colllege
06.1997 - 09.1997

University of Delaware

Doctor of Education from Educational Leadership

University Of Oslo

M.Phil. from Comparative And International Education

Addis Ababa University

Master of Arts from TEFL/ESL

Addis Ababa University

Bachelor of Arts from English Education And Literature

Kotebe College of Education

Associate of Arts from English Education
Aytaged Zeleke