Brittany A. McNamara
Doylestown,PA
Summary
Student-centered educator deeply committed to student academic achievement and social-emotional well-being. Adept at developing engaging and relevant lessons for students and maintaining great relationships with families with open communication. Passionate about creating a safe and welcoming inclusive community that encourages all student voices to be heard and respected.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
1st Grade Co-Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
08.2023 - Current
- Interact daily with parents and families in person and electronically through our school website to strengthen the home school connection
- Implement Kagan and Project GLAD teaching strategies while teaching Fundations, Illustrative Mathematics, and Reading & Writing Workshop
- Collaborate weekly with co-teacher create engaging lessons and meaningful assessments
- Implement small group instruction in phonics, math, reading and writing workshops
- Strengthen classroom community through morning meetings, social-emotional lessons, and closing circle
- Implement social-emotional learning activities to meet students' needs
- Participated in a technology cohort to develop student portfolios. Archived all student writing
- Collaborate daily with Wellness, behavioral support specialist and Lower Team Director to create behavior plans and implement accommodations to provide support for students with additional needs.
2nd Grade Lead Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
08.2021 - 06.2023
- Implement TCRWP units of study
- Collaborate with primary team in depth of study meetings
- Taught project based learning Social Studies units
- Communicate with specialist teachers
- Taught Illustrative Math and Reading & Writing Workshop
- Collaborate with Assistant Teacher
- Manage outdoor learning experiences
3rd Grade Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
04.2021 - 06.2021
- Implement TCRWP units of study
- Collaborate with primary team in depth of study meetings
- Taught project based learning Social Studies unit
- Communicate with specialist teachers
- Manage outdoor learning experiences
- Taught students over zoom for distance learning while simultaneously teaching in person as well as posting asynchronous lessons for virtual schoolhouse
- Long term substitute Lead Teacher
2nd Grade Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
11.2020 - 04.2021
- Collaborated with 2nd Grade Team
- Implement TCRWP units of study
- Communicated with Special Subject Teachers on collaborative projects to integrate curriculum
- Created a classroom Black History Museum & empowering Black History Unit
- Taught in a culturally responsive manner
- Worked with behavioral and academic therapists to help meet the needs of special needs students
- Developed specific checklists for behavior and included supports from Social Detective and Social Thinking curriculum
- Taught Geography through project based learning activities
- Implemented diversity, equity and inclusion classroom audit to ensure read aloud materials provided representation for students of diverse backgrounds.
- Helped mentor a first year teacher, teaching associate
- Taught over zoom during periods of distance learning in addition to simultaneously managing in person classes as well as students on zoom in other states with different time zones and posting asynchronous lessons for the virtual school house
- Long term substitute Lead Teacher
6th Grade History Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
11.2016 - 06.2017
- Collaborated with 6th grade team
- Implement informational writing and reading lessons along with history curriculum
- Communicated with Special Subject Teachers on collaborative projects to integrate curriculum
- Taught technology skills: Office 365, Pixton, Powerpoint, iMovie
- Taught students MLA formatting for research reports and informational books about ancient civilizations
- Taught students to storyboard & create timelines of events in history using Pixton
- Created class museums and other interactive project based learning experiences
- Created 30 minute inspirational presentations for students and parents on character education for assemblies including iMovie and intentionally chosen read alouds
- Maintained a website page including news stories, photo albums, and topics page with links to research sources and educational videos
- Collaborated with STEAM teachers to develop engaging educational projects that align with curriculum
- Long term substitute
Literacy Support Specialist
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
08.2015 - 06.2017
- Coach teachers in the Columbia Teachers College Reader’s & Writer’s Workshop format
- Individual conferencing with students
- Create and implement small group instruction in grades 4-8
- Teach the TCRWP curriculum to grades 4-8
- Collaborate to unify the language of instruction by creating and bringing together teacher charts and lesson materials
- Attend depth of study meetings to help teachers collaborate on lessons and materials
- Conduct reading assessments using the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark system
3rd Grade Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
08.2014 - 06.2015
- Collaborated in depth of study meetings for primary and intermediate core teachers
- Worked with cooperating teacher on creating and implementing lesson plans
- Implemented Teachers College Readers’ & Writers’ Workshop
K-8 Substitute Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
Los Angeles, CA
01.2013 - 08.2014
- Successfully implemented teacher’s lesson plans while adapting curriculum when needed
- Facilitated small group activities in order to better address individual student needs
- Consistent ability to quickly establish effective classroom management in a variety of settings and grade levels
- Experience with grades K-8 core classes in addition to Art, English, PE, Kindergarten, and Science
- Woodshop- Long term substitute
Homeschool Preschool
Self
Los Angeles, CA
08.2018 - 12.2020
- Taught preschool for 2-4 year olds using Blossom and Root Curriculum
Roosevelt Elementary & Franklin Elementary, Santa Monica School District
Santa Monica, CA
- Breed St Elementary, Second St. Elementary, First St. Elementary, East Los Angeles, LAUSD
Merry Makers Entertainment
New York, NY
Children’s Entertainment Event Planner
01.2003 - 10.2013
- Planned and implemented age appropriate activities for grades preK-5.
- Manage up to 200 children
- Created interactive experiences, performances, scenery, integrated art projects, with music, games, activities to fit a specific theme
- Performed at parties to engage and entertain many different ages of children from diverse backgrounds
- Hired actors and artists to put in puppet shows, theatrical experiences and musical entertainment for corporations & families
- Designed sets and scenery and props to put on theatrical performances for large cooperation family days
- Designed developmentally appropriate arts and crafts projects for ages 2-12
Ballroom Dance Teacher
Ballroom Madness
01.2010 - 07.2013
- Teach all 5th grade classrooms various ballroom dances, along with their origin and vocabulary
- Took over PE for a period of 12 weeks in public schools in Boyle Heights and Santa Monica
- Developed an after school advanced ballroom program
- Organized a competition with medals and trophies
- Worked with a parent group to manage scheduling
- Work with students of diverse backgrounds
Good to Grow Program Assistant, Early Childhood
Center For Developing Kids
Pasadena, CA
05.2011 - 09.2011
- Implemented preschool activities for special needs youth
- Planned and executed daily projects and field trips to promote experiential learning
- Collaborated with on-site occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, supervisors, and parents to maximize support for youth participants
Education
Master of Arts - Education: Teacher Preparation, Multiple Subject Credential
Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Los Angeles, CA06-2014
Bachelor of Arts - Musical Theater
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO12-2002
Skills
- Educational Technology: Canva, Magic School, Seesaw, FlipGrid, Zoom Rooms, Google Classroom, Blackboard Collaborate, Taskstream, Google Drive, Apple TV, Promethium Board, Skype, Pixton, i-Movie, Office 365, Google Drive, Gemini
- Language: Some Spanish, Some French
- Supported fundraising events and the school Gala
- Volunteered to support the school musicals
Accomplishments
- Curriculum Implementation - Taught reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, art and physical education to primary students.
- Curriculum Development - Tailored educational curriculum to students with range of learning styles, disabilities, strengths and weaknesses. Developed innovative semester lesson plans and practical application exercises for classroom, with 99% of students reading on or above grade level by the end of the year.
- Student Motivation - Volunteered to create a community garden, volunteered to support the school musicals, and tutored students after school to support literacy.
- Targeted Development - Met with parents and guardians to discuss children's progress and to determine priorities and resource needs.
Affiliations
Student California Teachers Association
Certification
- California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential June 2014
- California Clear Credential Candidate June 2023
Languages
Some Spanish
Timeline
1st Grade Co-Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
08.2023 - Current
2nd Grade Lead Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
08.2021 - 06.2023
3rd Grade Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
04.2021 - 06.2021
2nd Grade Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
11.2020 - 04.2021
Homeschool Preschool
Self
08.2018 - 12.2020
6th Grade History Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
11.2016 - 06.2017
Literacy Support Specialist
Berkeley Hall School
08.2015 - 06.2017
3rd Grade Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
08.2014 - 06.2015
K-8 Substitute Teacher
Berkeley Hall School
01.2013 - 08.2014
Good to Grow Program Assistant, Early Childhood
Center For Developing Kids
05.2011 - 09.2011
Ballroom Dance Teacher
Ballroom Madness
01.2010 - 07.2013
Children’s Entertainment Event Planner
01.2003 - 10.2013
Roosevelt Elementary & Franklin Elementary, Santa Monica School District
Merry Makers Entertainment
Bachelor of Arts - Musical Theater
University of Northern Colorado
Master of Arts - Education: Teacher Preparation, Multiple Subject Credential
Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology
AWARDS
Sandra Day O’Connor Leadership Award- From the National Association of Christians and Jews, Olaf H. Tegner Scholarship Award- Pepperdine University
Training
- Universal Learning Design- Burbank Unified School District 2023
- Science of Reading- Really Great Reading 2023
- Responsive Classroom Training July 2021
- Columbia Teachers College Reading & Writing Project Summer Institute Aug 2015
- 2016 Pi Project: Teaching Math With the Common Core, Lessons from Singapore
- Singapore Math Workshop Feb 2015