Beth Marie Kierez
Floral Park
Summary
Dedicated educational leader seeking an Assistant Principal position that promotes academic equity, arts integration, and standards-based instruction. Committed to empowering teachers, elevating literacy, and fostering a culturally responsive, inclusive school community.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Principal – English, Library, Performing Arts, and ENL
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
09.2015 - Current
- Supervise 42 staff across English, Library, Dance, Theater, and ENL departments with a focus on instructional growth and academic equity.
- Led department-wide curriculum alignment with Next Generation Learning Standards (NGLS) and created vertically aligned unit maps.
- Designed and implemented Mock ELA Regents Exams to drive instructional planning and improve student readiness.
- Standardized midterms and final assessments to ensure consistency and equity across all English classes.
- Trained faculty on the NYC DOE ADVANCE evaluation system to foster reflective teaching practices.
- Recruited and hired literacy-certified educators to provide targeted support to students in the bottom third percentile.
- Launched Educational Equity courses and units in ELA, integrating culturally responsive literature and themes around identity, voice, and justice.
- Created a reading comprehension curriculum for 9th–12th grade classes focused on reading strategy protocols, ELA Regents review, SAT/ACT prep, and College and Career Readiness.
- Promoted data-informed instruction using student performance metrics from diagnostics, classroom assessments, and Regents results.
- Collaborated with the College Office to expand St. John’s College Advantage Program offerings in English.
- Instructional Leadership & ELA Curriculum Development
- This four-year journalism program blends a strong English foundation with evolving media electives. Students begin with core writing and journalism skills, then explore visual storytelling through graphic design and photojournalism. In the third year, they study public relations and advertising. The final year offers a choice between broadcast and video production or print and digital publication, culminating in a capstone project that showcases their media and communication skills.
- Supervised the development and implementation of the Library & Digital Literacy Program, which equips students with essential research, information evaluation, and digital citizenship skills. Through integrated instruction and access to diverse resources, students become confident, ethical users and creators of digital content.
- Supervised the Performing Arts & Dance Leadership program, fostering creativity, collaboration, and leadership through performance-based learning. Students engage in dance, theater, and music while developing skills in choreography, production, and arts advocacy.
- Supervised the ENL (English as a New Language) Department, focusing on inclusive instruction, cultural responsiveness, and academic success. The department provides targeted language development while empowering English language learners to thrive in all content areas.
- Established targeted intervention programs for ENL, ISS, and bottom-third performing students, resulting in measurable gains in academic achievement schoolwide.
- Implemented Achieve3000 to improve reading comprehension and Lexile levels, and integrated Listenwise to build academic language skills using authentic podcasts and video-based lessons.
Adjunct Lecturer, College Now Program
Queensborough Community College
01.2010 - Current
- Teach English 101 with focus on analytical writing and college readiness.
- Co-developed updated English curriculum in collaboration with QCC professors.
English Teacher (Grades 9–12)
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
01.2002 - 01.2015
- Delivered Regents, SAT prep, AIS, and ESL-inclusive instruction aligned with Common Core Standards.
- Developed department-wide curriculum modifications and coached new teachers.
- Primary teacher for Academic Intervention Services (AIS) and Regents prep programs.
- Created and led Cardozo Celebrates, a student project fair with over 1,000 parent attendees annually.
- Served as Department Assistant for Regents administration and Mentor Teacher for new staff and student teachers.
- Developed innovative lesson plans to engage students in English language learning.
Education
Post-Master’s Certificate - School District Leader (SDL)
Queens College, CUNY
Flushing, NY06-2008
Post-Master’s Certificate - School Building Leader (SBL)
Queens College, CUNY
Flushing, NY06-2008
M.S. - Adolescent Education, English Concentration
St. John’s University
Jamaica, NY06-2004
B.A. - English, Drama-Theatre & Dance, and Secondary Education
Queens College, CUNY
Flushing, NY06-2002
Skills
- Master class programming
- Data-driven instruction
- Assessment design
- Literacy strategies
- Fundraising
- Restorative practices
Certification
- NYS School District Leader (SDL)
- NYS School Building Leader (SBL)
- NYS Permanent Teaching Certificate – English 7–12
- Certified Educational Equity Teacher
- QTEL (Quality Teaching for English Learners)
- Modern Classroom Project Certified
- ICI Sustainable Leadership Program
- Peer Mediation & Conflict Resolution Specialist
Awards
Best of Boro School Spirit Award, 2015, Member, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), 2002–Present
Additional Leadership Roles
- Coordinator of Student Activities (COSA) | 2011–2015 Oversaw 70+ clubs; managed school events, student leadership programs, and community partnerships.
- Peer Mediation & Conflict Resolution Coordinator | 2002–2009 Trained student mediators, taught SEL strategies, collaborated with counseling teams, and led PD sessions on classroom management.
- Site Project Coordinator, Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) | 2009–2012 Led school participation in Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s MET research initiative. Coordinated surveys, video observations, and student data with DOE and external researchers.
- Gateway Institute Liaison & School Coordinator Organized tutoring, college-readiness workshops, and student selection panels in collaboration with Gateway Foundation.
- Member, Inquiry Team Used assessment data to target and track academic progress of Level 1 and 2 students; implemented research-based interventions.
Timeline
Assistant Principal – English, Library, Performing Arts, and ENL
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
09.2015 - Current
Adjunct Lecturer, College Now Program
Queensborough Community College
01.2010 - Current
English Teacher (Grades 9–12)
Benjamin N. Cardozo High School
01.2002 - 01.2015
Post-Master’s Certificate - School District Leader (SDL)
Queens College, CUNY
Post-Master’s Certificate - School Building Leader (SBL)
Queens College, CUNY
M.S. - Adolescent Education, English Concentration
St. John’s University
B.A. - English, Drama-Theatre & Dance, and Secondary Education
Queens College, CUNY
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