CASSANDRA A. SMITH
Bowie,MD
Summary
CAREER SUMMARY Dedicated educator with demonstrated ability to teach, motivate, and direct diverse student and teacher populations at a variety of academic levels with high standards of excellence. Strong conceptual, analytical and facilitation skills in instructional design, course development and content delivery. Over 25 years’ experience developing, consulting, and evaluating instructional programs. Knowledge and implementation experience of varied instructional strategies applying national and state curriculum standards necessary to support student achievement. Dedicated Curriculum Coordinator well-versed in student and course data analysis to make effective decisions on future plans and materials. Proven history of implementing innovative plans for optimized learning and retention. History of improving course strength and modernizing instruction with a fresh and forward-thinking approach to education. Bringing understanding of traditional and contemporary approaches, instructional strategies, and materials offerings. Focused Instructional Designer aiming to leverage a skill for developing learning strategies to suit varied learning modalities. Eager to contribute value to the NASA Educational Outreach team through a proven history of effective employee training, professional development, and implementation support.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Algebra 1 Teacher
HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
Glenn Dale, United States
01.2020 - Current
- Communicate student progress with administrators and parents through in-person and online systems
- Plan, develop, and utilize a variety of instructional materials and aids to create an engaging, inquiry-based learning environment in pre-Algebra and Algebra classrooms
- Maintain appropriate standards of pupil behavior, using behavioral management strategies and techniques
- Deliver differentiated instruction to address neurodiverse learners including discussions, cooperative learning, demonstrations, and experiential learning
- Perform assigned teacher duties on a rotating schedule with faculty and staff
- Sponsored and Coached the Regional First Place Winning Stock Market Game Team virtually,
- Provided meaningful math instruction to improve the math skills of children.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Diversified teaching techniques and learning tools help students with differing ability levels and varied learning modalities.
- Kept classroom environments consistent and focused on learning by establishing and enforcing clear objectives.
- Assessed submitted class assignments, determined grades, and reviewed work with struggling students to boost success.
- Scheduled appointments with parents to discuss student progress and classroom behavior.
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in the course material.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
- Planned, developed, and executed lessons reflecting the high school curriculum and Maryland's core educational standards.
- Selected and requisitioned appropriate books and instructional aids to complement lesson plans.
Owner - Director
ENGINEERING MINDZ, LLC
Greenbelt, MD
01.2010 - Current
- Established the first of its kind, (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Learning Center in Greenbelt Maryland.
- Design, develop and deliver STEM content and implement enrichment for K-8 Prince Georges County community through afterschool and weekend programs
- Increased the level of participation in local, state, and national competitions in Lego and VEX Robotics, Destination Imagination, Stock Market Game, and MathCounts, impacting over 200 youth.
- Founder and Coach of the Bowie First Lego League and 2009 recipient of City of Bowie Community Grant
- Partner with local community organizations (National Society of Black Engineers, University of Maryland, Prince Georges Public Schools, Maryland STEM Festival, Maryland First Lego League) in STEM Outreach through presentations showcasing best practices, hosting hands-on workshops, and coaching competition teams.
- Managed day-to-day business operations
- Founded and managed afterschool program business, growing revenue to $35,000 in the first year.
- Monitored market conditions to set accurate product pricing and take advantage of emerging trends
- Created and monitored promotional approaches to increase sales and profit levels
- Organized and attended community special events to showcase services, network with other businesses and attract new customers.
- Conducted target market research to discover customer needs and analyze competitor trends.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline the scope of positions for the organization
- Reconciled daily sales, returns, and financial reports in QuickBooks.
Education Program Specialist
Maryland State Department Of Education
Baltimore, MD
01.2011 - 08.2012
- Mathematics
- Planned, coordinated, and evaluated professional development of the Educator Effectiveness Academies for 1455 Maryland Public Schools to learn content and effective strategies for implementing the Common Core Curriculum
- Managed on sites, registration web portals coordinated staff and provided technical assistance and direct content-specific expertise in the development, review, and refinement of the Educator Effectiveness Academy
- Lead and coached teams of Maryland Master Teacher educators to deliver high-impact training and professional development implementation of the Common Core State Standards and PARCC assessments and the revised Maryland State Curriculum, training over 5000 teachers, and impacting over 55,000 educators across the state.
- Served as liaison to the Assistant Superintendent or designee from the 24 districts/counties, Director of Curriculum, Math Coordinator, and Director of Professional Development to ensure effective implementation of the Race to the Top Initiative.
- Managed real-time education program delivery to meet scheduled and expected objectives.
- Built and sustained strong relationships between internal and external educational collaborators and served as liaison between course directors and learners.
- Designed, implemented and managed successful training programs to meet department and school needs.
- Effectively implemented best training practices and adult learning principles in planning and creation of instructional materials.
- Provided subject matter expertise on all courses, materials and lesson plans.
- Targeted diverse learning modalities in development of new course content and training programs.
University Supervisor
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, UMD
College Park, MD
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Serve as university representative responsible for collaborating with mentor teachers to provide individualized support and guidance to four PDS teacher-intern
- Conduct frequent observations and feedback to inform interns of specific strengths, needs, and areas of improvement, both verbally and in writing
- Provide formative and summative assessments to interns at scheduled midterm and final conferences
- Work with interns to develop proficiency in reflective practice consistent with professional standards
Understanding Teacher Quality, School Researcher / Consultant
EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES
Princeton, NJ
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Conduct research activities that include over 100 classroom observations, recording and analyzing videotaped lessons, and the administration of classroom assessment protocols
- Collect classroom data and evaluate the classroom learning environment using the CLASS-S observation protocol
- Document effective instructional strategies for success in teaching algebra
- Effectively communicate the goals of the study, daily to middle and high school teachers and school leadership.
- Analyzed problematic areas to provide recommendations and solutions
Office of Staff Development, Staff Development Teacher
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MCPS
Rockville, MD
01.2001 - 01.2006
- Provided tools, resources, and job-embedded training to strengthen classroom teachers’ knowledge and repertoire of pedagogical skills in concert with professional growth plans
- Implemented district training initiatives and activities consistent with local school goals and with county teacher evaluation system, and Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence
- Served on the leadership team, reviewed, and interpreted local school performance data, formulating recommendations for staff training and instructional plans to meet individual student needs for academic success
- Facilitated and coached a professional learning community of 35 educators for action research using peer feedback on instructional practices
- Conducted model lessons demonstrating teaching strategies including differentiation, scaffolding, team teaching, and problem-based, and inquiry-based learning experiences.
Instructional Technology Specialist
CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CPS
Chicago, Illinois
01.1992 - 01.2001
- Facilitated effective technology integration in instruction staff development to increase capacity and meet countywide technology initiative goals
- Collaborated with school and district curriculum specialists to provide technology integration training
- Designed curriculum and conducted model lessons utilizing effective instructional strategies, state and district curriculum standards, and best practices across content areas
- Created document templates and instructional resources to support classroom management and curriculum planning.
- Designed, implemented, and managed successful training programs to meet department and school needs.
- Planned and monitored the implementation of technology-based learning programs.
- Created curricula, research topics and conceptualized course format, subject matter, and presentation.
- Contributed to the development of comprehensive employee training courses.
- Developed assessments and user polls to evaluate course effectiveness, altering content and delivery to achieve student learning goals.
- Targeted diverse learning modalities in the development of new course content and training programs.
- Developed workforce training programs to improve organizational efficiency.
- Negotiated contracts and delivery plans with vendors.
Technology Specialist
Office of School Intervention
Chicago, IL
- Managed technology initiatives and implementation of strategic plans for the five lowest academic performing high schools in the district serving over 3,000 students.
- Conducted needs assessments and staff training using research-based best practices to increase student achievement
- Negotiate technology acquisitions, budgets, infrastructure design, and construction including assessment and testing of network connectivity and Internet access
- Collaborated with school technology coordinators in curriculum integration, network maintenance, and implementation, aligned to Chicago Public Schools Technology Strategic Sourcing Program
- Provided technical assistance to schools in the development and implementation of technology plans and grant proposals
Developed curriculum and coordinated weekly regional staff development training for teachers and central office staff
Served on the leadership team as vendor liaison for assigned schools with approved infrastructure and hardware/software purchases
Technology Resource Network facilitator of regional meetings and workshops for school technology teams
Assisted Technology Literacy Grant winners and E-Rate applicants with project implementation
Served on the Illinois State Board of Education advisory board for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund grant and facilitated training of teachers and administrators in Phase I of the grant.
Teacher / Technology Coordinator
Lawndale Community Math and Science Academy
Chicago, IL
- Facilitated a positive learning experience while introducing a broad range of subjects and developed students' mathematical and literacy skills in a self-contained sixth grade classroom
- Developing and implementing enrichment programs for academically disadvantaged children and gifted and talented programs for students and taught departmental mathematics for grades 6th through 8th
- Coordinated activities and instructional programs aligned to the Chicago System wide Objectives, Learning Outcomes and State Goals
- Taught fourth through eighth grade students to use the resources of technology that supported curriculum goals
- Wrote and received six grants for Internet connectivity and technology integrated curriculum projects
- Developed curriculum and served as staff mentor on integrating technology and engaged learning pedagogy
- Worked with students in the summer Mathematics Applications in Chicago district pilot program
- Managed all technology purchases and led the development of a technology team to assure implementation of a strategic technology plan including the installation and expansion of a Local Area Network with Internet access
- Served on the instructional leadership team and provided best practices for schoolwide implementation
- Chicago Systemic Initiative - Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Facilitator and Curriculum Development Team
Technology Planner and Facilitator, Applications Instructor
Illinois State Board Of Education, Chicago Public
Springfield, IL
- Professional Growth and Staff Development – Technology Applications Instructor
- North Lawndale Learning Community Network - Professional Development Retreat Facilitator
- NASA Greenbelt, - Lunar Workshops and Afterschool Universe program implementation, Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering Pre-College - Presenter and Facilitator
- Developed and implemented organizational systems to better manage training documentation and progress reporting
- Wrote instructional material, and planned and facilitated software and technology integration teacher professional development for over 5,000 educators.
Education
Master of Arts - Curriculum and Instruction
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
River Forest, IL08.1994
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Park, PA08.1991
Skills
- Web Applications
- Technology Implementation and Integration
- Hardware and Software Integration
- Instructional Technology
- Technical Support and Assistance
- Budget Estimation and Grants Management
- Systems Thinking
- Facilitation and Staff Development Trainer
- Instructional design and Curriculum Development
Affiliations
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Learning Forward Professional Learning Association
National Staff Development Council Phi Delta Kappa International
Penn State Alumni Association Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Timeline
Algebra 1 Teacher
HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
01.2020 - Current
Education Program Specialist
Maryland State Department Of Education
01.2011 - 08.2012
Owner - Director
ENGINEERING MINDZ, LLC
01.2010 - Current
University Supervisor
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, UMD
01.2009 - 01.2011
Understanding Teacher Quality, School Researcher / Consultant
EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES
01.2009 - 01.2010
Office of Staff Development, Staff Development Teacher
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MCPS
01.2001 - 01.2006
Instructional Technology Specialist
CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CPS
01.1992 - 01.2001
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Master of Arts - Curriculum and Instruction
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Technology Planner and Facilitator, Applications Instructor
Illinois State Board Of Education, Chicago Public
Teacher / Technology Coordinator
Lawndale Community Math and Science Academy
Technology Specialist
Office of School Intervention