Billie Stensby
St Paul,MN
Summary
Dynamic, innovative educator with twenty-three years of experience teaching and leading through ever-changing learning environments. Demonstrated success in driving student achievement by leveraging high expectations through authentic leadership, utilizing data-driven decision-making, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive and engaging community.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Academic Support Specialist
Nokomis Montessori North Magnet School
St Paul, MN
08.2021 - Current
- Collaborate with the administration to lead our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) committee in overseeing the operations and alignment of our tiered systems, including Positive Behavior Interventions (PBIS), Student Achievement Team (SAT), Child Study Team, Mental Health Team, and Leadership Team.
- Provide professional development for staff regarding MTSS, PBIS, and SAT.
- Lead the SAT in coordinating all general education student support plans for students referred for academic, social-emotional, and behavioral support.
- Coordinate staff and parent meetings regarding student support plans and recommendations. Work together to improve outcomes.
- Manage the Student Support Data Tracking System.
- Coach teachers on implementing and progress monitoring Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 academic interventions.
- Teach and progress monitor Tier 2 and Tier 3 academic interventions.
- Collaborate with the Special Education Child Study Team regarding the next steps for students recommended for special education evaluations.
- Serve on the leadership team, collaborating with administrators around the School Improvement Plan; including strategic planning, data analysis, data-based decision-making, change management, and budget implications.
Reading Intervention Teacher - Online
STEP Academy Charter School
St Paul, MN
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Company Overview: K-12 Charter School.
- Collaborated as a K-5 reading intervention team member to plan for engaging, individualized instruction for virtual reading intervention during our year-long distance-learning model.
- Provided reading intervention instruction to small groups of students virtually, using Google Meet.
- Created a safe, motivating learning environment, fostering positive relationships, student engagement, and academic growth.
- Collaborated with classroom teachers and families to maximize student attendance, engagement, and skill application.
- Implemented data-driven instruction using regular progress monitoring assessments to track skill development, plan instruction, and provide feedback to students, teachers, and parents.
- Served as a member of the elementary Student Success Team.
Lower School Learning Specialist
Saint Paul Academy and Summit School
St Paul, MN
08.2016 - 06.2020
- Served on the lower school administrative team as the leader in instructional leadership, data-based decision-making, and student support.
- Collaborated with the lower school Student Support Team (SST) to make recommendations for school and community resources available for families of identified students.
- Coordinated services for families of students recommended to obtain an educational evaluation for a learning disability.
- Created learning plans with accommodations and targeted goals for students with diagnosed learning disabilities.
- Collaborated with classroom and specialist teachers, families, and outside support services (psychologists, private tutors, occupational therapy, etc.), establishing a comprehensive approach for supporting students with learning plans.
- Provided direct support for teachers of students with learning plans, including coaching and professional development around differentiation, accommodations, and modifications to promote equitable instruction and achievement in rigorous, standards-based learning.
- Met regularly with teachers and families regarding students' academic growth and progress toward learning plan goals.
- Maintained a database documenting services and progress for students with learning plans.
Instructional Specialist | Literacy Specialist
Ella Baker Community School
Minneapolis, MN
06.2009 - 06.2016
- Conducted formal observations of pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade tenured teachers twice yearly, using the district's Standards of Effective Instruction rubric.
- Guided coaching conversations to provide feedback for teachers based on formal observation data, and worked together to set and monitor instructional SMART goals.
- Collaborated with administration to ensure teachers received the coaching, professional development, or training needed to accomplish their professional goals.
- Provided opportunities for peer observations and coaching.
- Conducted demonstration lessons to model instructional practices as needed.
- Coordinated and supervised the school-wide Response to Intervention (RTI) plan, within the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) model.
- Served as the school-wide professional development lead for five years. Worked closely with the building leadership team to plan, facilitate, and progress monitor various school-wide initiatives, including Standards-Based Grading, Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching, Transforming School Culture, Content-Based Literacy Instruction, and MTSS.
- Assisted each teaching team with planning and monitoring their PLC goals, based on school-wide initiatives.
- Served as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team.
- Taught middle school reading for sixth through eighth grades, maintaining high expectations for student achievement while motivating students to reach their literacy goals.
- Fostered growth in students' enjoyment of reading by cultivating opportunities to make connections, and have fun.
- Consistently communicated with families to share expectations for student achievement, and to celebrate progress and success toward their goals.
- Collaborated with teachers to plan data-driven, differentiated, standards-based lessons for students to promote accelerated achievement toward grade level.
- Co-taught sixth through eighth-grade math, humanities, and science, integrating content area reading and writing standards and strategies.
Fifth Grade Teacher
Fridley Middle School
Fridley, MN
06.2005 - 08.2009
Second Grade Teacher, Long Term Substitute
Concord Elementary School
12.2004 - 08.2005
Eighth Grade ELA and Math Teacher
St. Columba School
St Paul, MN
08.2003 - 06.2004
Sixth Grade ELA Teacher
St. Raphael's Catholic School
08.2002 - 06.2003
Education
Ed. Specialist - pK-12 Administration
Concordia University
Saint Paul, MN07.2025
M.A. - K-12 Reading Education
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, MN01.2014
B.A. - Elementary Education
College of St Scholastica
Duluth, MN01.2002
Skills
- Instructional Leadership
- Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Individualized Student Learning Plans
- Science-Based Reading Instruction
- Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching
- Coaching Conversations
- Professional Development
- Professional Learning Communities
Licensures
- K-12 Principal - on track to obtain in July, 2025
- K-12 Reading Education
- K - 6 Elementary Education
- 5-8 Communication Arts / Literature
Timeline
Academic Support Specialist
Nokomis Montessori North Magnet School
08.2021 - Current
Reading Intervention Teacher - Online
STEP Academy Charter School
08.2020 - 06.2021
Lower School Learning Specialist
Saint Paul Academy and Summit School
08.2016 - 06.2020
Instructional Specialist | Literacy Specialist
Ella Baker Community School
06.2009 - 06.2016
Fifth Grade Teacher
Fridley Middle School
06.2005 - 08.2009
Second Grade Teacher, Long Term Substitute
Concord Elementary School
12.2004 - 08.2005
Eighth Grade ELA and Math Teacher
St. Columba School
08.2003 - 06.2004
Sixth Grade ELA Teacher
St. Raphael's Catholic School
08.2002 - 06.2003
Ed. Specialist - pK-12 Administration
Concordia University
M.A. - K-12 Reading Education
University of St Thomas
B.A. - Elementary Education
College of St Scholastica
Similar Profiles
Winnifer PolancoWinnifer Polanco
Teacher's Assistant at Montessori Magnet School (albany School District)Teacher's Assistant at Montessori Magnet School (albany School District)
Maria Narcisa LopezMaria Narcisa Lopez
School Library Assistant at Suder Montessori Magnet SchoolSchool Library Assistant at Suder Montessori Magnet School
Margaret BessMargaret Bess
Parent Liaison at Northboro Montessori Magnet SchoolParent Liaison at Northboro Montessori Magnet School