Carly Zurcher
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Passionate Teacher with experience developing and implementing diverse curriculums that are responsive to student's interests. Highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and observation. Successful in helping students develop strong pre-academic skills with an emphasis on social emotional and anti-bias curricula.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Collaborative Lead Teacher, Pre-K
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Day School
08.2023 - Current
- Create Reggio-Emilia inspired curricula in whole and small group settings, integrating pre-academic skills and social emotional scaffolding to meet the holistic needs of each student
- Collaborate with colleagues to design social emotional and social justice curricula that is culturally responsive to our group of students
- Develop and implement differentiated instruction strategies to accommodate diverse learning styles while partnering with supplemental support staff to ensure student comfort and engagement
- Partner with families through regular communication, providing documentation via daily blogs, annual comprehensive portfolios, and leading three parent-teacher conferences.
Facilitator, Co-Founder
Changemakers Collective
09.2021 - Current
- Coordinate and facilitate an independent community of kindergarten-2nd grade children and their families to learn, explore and take part in justice-oriented projects
- Led and organized multiple public fundraisers with children and families to raise money for Point of Pride (June 2022) and the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (June 2023)
- Lead bimonthly field trips with children and families that engage in community-based action
- Presented a Changemakers Collective case study at the 2023 Bank Street Teaching Kindergarten conference.
Collaborative Lead Teacher, Pre-K
Brooklyn Sandbox Early Learning Center
08.2020 - 06.2023
- Facilitated emergent, project-based learning with children with an integrated literacy and numeracy curricula, providing a strong emphasis on social justice and community organizing
- Developed a nature play curriculum for uninterrupted outdoor play in Prospect Park twice a week
- Cultivated a safe space for diverse learners through emotionally responsive practice and a commitment to communal values
- Developed children's emergent literacy and foundational handwriting skills using Sounds in Motion and Handwriting Without Tears
- Communicated with families via regular email correspondence, weekly newsletters and anecdotal snapshots, biannual conferences and annual comprehensive portfolios for each student.
Lead Teacher, 3/4s
Brooklyn Sandbox Early Learning Center
08.2019 - 06.2020
- Developed culturally responsive, emergent, Reggio Emilia-inspired curricula with a dedication to meet the needs of each student
- Facilitated correspondence with families via weekly anecdotal highlights, newsletters, emails, and led biannual conferences
- Created and led daily virtual curricula over zoom from March-August of 2020, providing asynchronous video and supplemental work online for children and families
- Led weekly virtual parent discussion groups over zoom throughout lockdown
- Mentored an assistant teacher.
Associate Teacher, Kindergarten & Pre-K
Greenwich Academy
08.2017 - 06.2019
- Cultivated a safe space for diverse learners through a project-based learning environment with a strong social emotional focus
- Evaluated students' using formative and summative assessment tools, conducted parent teacher conferences and wrote biannual narrative reports
- Directed social emotional and leadership curriculum through the lens of socially conscious changemakers
- Taught lessons using Singapore Math, Sounds in Motion and Writing Workshop
- Led project-based STEAM lessons with activities that implemented children's scientific inquiry and experimentation skills
- Incorporated daily phonics instruction and led reading lessons using Recipe for Reading.
Assistant Teacher
Frydenhøjskolen
08.2015 - 12.2015
- Taught English lessons using a dynamic blend of games, introductory vocabulary, and children's books
- Assisted with physical education and mindfulness activities, and provided various academic supports as needed.
Education
Master of Science in Early Childhood General Education -
Bank Street College of Education
New York, NY07.2019
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude -
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA05.2017
Skills
- Reggio-inspired Curriculum
- Differentiated Instruction
- Anti-Bias Curriculum
- Action and Project-Based Learning
- Child Development
- Sounds In Motion Training
- Handwriting Without Tears
- Parent-Teacher Collaboration
- Curricula Development
- New York Teaching Credential
Certification
Professional Teacher Certificate: Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), New York
Additional Work Experience
- Greenwich Academy, High School Varsity Water Polo Assistant Coach, March 2018 - May 2019
- Penn Charter Day Camp, Swim Instructor and Lifeguard, 2010 - 2017
- Philadelphia Cricket Club, Swim Coach, Summer 2016, 2017
Professional Development
- Bank Street's Teaching Kindergarten Conference, March 2023, New York, NY, Presenter - Organizing Beyond the Classroom: Kindergarteners as Agents of Change
- Queer Kids Rock Conference - Teachers Together Panel, October 2022
- Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist Education Workshop, August 2022
- Hilltop Institute - Learning Stories Conference, June 2021
- Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Symposium - Curriculum Share, February 2021
- Abolitionist Teaching Network - Co-conspiratorship Panel, August 2020, January 2021
- White Anti-Racist Educators, November 2019 - May 2020
- Teaching Beyond the Square - Reggio Emilia Classroom Inspirations, August 2019
- Brooklyn College - Creating Space and Transforming Places, August 2019
- Bank Street College of Education's Racial Literacy Seminar, October 2018
- Responsive Classroom Conference, December 2017
Timeline
Collaborative Lead Teacher, Pre-K
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church Day School
08.2023 - Current
Facilitator, Co-Founder
Changemakers Collective
09.2021 - Current
Collaborative Lead Teacher, Pre-K
Brooklyn Sandbox Early Learning Center
08.2020 - 06.2023
Lead Teacher, 3/4s
Brooklyn Sandbox Early Learning Center
08.2019 - 06.2020
Associate Teacher, Kindergarten & Pre-K
Greenwich Academy
08.2017 - 06.2019
Assistant Teacher
Frydenhøjskolen
08.2015 - 12.2015
Master of Science in Early Childhood General Education -
Bank Street College of Education
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude -
Occidental College
Professional Teacher Certificate: Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), New York
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