CASSANDRA A. SMITH
Bowie,MD
Summary
CAREER SUMMARY: Experienced educator and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in teaching, motivating, and leading diverse populations at various academic levels with a strong emphasis on enhancing learning proficiency. Skilled in instructional design, course development, and content delivery aligned to national and state curriculum standards to support academic achievement.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Algebra 1 Teacher
HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
Glenn Dale
01.2020 - Current
- Plan, develop, and deliver differentiated Algebra instruction to address neurodiverse learners including discussions, cooperative learning, demonstrations, and experiential learning using core standards
- Maintain appropriate standards of pupil behavior, using behavioral management strategies and techniques
- Sponsored and Coached Regional First Place Winning Stock Market Game Team hybrid
Founder - Director
ENGINEERING MINDZ, LLC
Prince Georges County, VA
01.2010 - Current
- Design, develop and deliver Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) content and implement enrichment for K-8 learning community through afterschool and weekend programs
- Partner with local community organizations (National Society of Black Engineers, University of Maryland, Prince Georges Public Schools, Maryland STEM Festival, Maryland First Lego League) to increase diverse participation in local, state, and national competitions in Lego and VEX Robotics, Destination Imagination, Stock Market Game, and MathCounts, impacting over 200 youth
- Managed day-to-day business operations, reconciling daily sales, returns, and financial reports growing revenue by $35,000 annually
- Recruited, hired, and trained personnel for key internal functions
Education Program Specialist
Maryland State Department of Education
Baltimore, MD
01.2011 - 08.2012
- Managed registration, created web portals, provided technical assistance, evaluated and refined development of Educator Effectiveness Academy for 1455 Maryland Public Schools to learn content and effective strategies for implementing Common Core Curriculum
- Provide subject matter expertise to Maryland Master Teacher educators in delivering high-impact training and implementation of Common Core State Standards and PARCC assessments and revised Maryland State Curriculum, training over 5000 teachers, and impacting over 55,000 educators statewide
- Served as liaison to Assistant Superintendent or designee from 24 districts/counties, Director of Curriculum, Math Coordinator, and Director of Professional Development to ensure effective implementation of Race to the Top $50 million grant initiative.
University Supervisor
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, UMD
College Park, MD
01.2009 - 01.2011
- University representative responsible for collaborating with mentor teachers to provide individualized support and guidance to four PDS teacher-intern to develop proficiency in reflective practice consistent with professional standards
- Strengthen pre-service teacher preparation through observations, formative, and summative assessments, and provide feedback.
Understanding Teacher Quality, School Researcher / Consultant
EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES
Princeton, NJ
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Conducted over 100 classroom observations, recording and analyzing lessons, and advised school administration of classroom assessment protocols
- Collect data, analyze, and evaluate the learning environment using the CLASS-S observation protocol
- Document effective instructional strategies for success in teaching algebra and provide recommendations and solutions to complex instructional strategies.
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
- Coached and conducted model lessons for professional learning community of 35 educators in Action Research, 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
- Designed curriculum, created instructional resources, and conducted model lessons utilizing effective instructional strategies, state and district curriculum standards, and best practices across content areas
- Improved organizational efficiency through workforce training materials, targeting diverse learning modalities and evaluating course effectiveness, altering content and delivery to achieve student learning goals
- Provide technical assistance to school leadership teams in the development and implementation of technology plans and grant proposals including vendor liaison for infrastructure and hardware/software purchases
- Technology Resource Network facilitator of regional meetings and workshops for Technology Literacy Grant winners and E-Rate project implementation applicants
- Served on the Illinois State Board of Education advisory board for the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund grant and facilitated statewide training of teachers and administrators in Phase 1 of the grant.
Technology Specialist
Office of School Intervention
Chicago, IL
- Managed technology initiatives and implementation of strategic plans for five lowest-academic-performing high schools district serving over 3,000 students
- 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
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
- Created enrichment programs for academically disadvantaged children and gifted and talented programs for students and taught departmental mathematics for grades 6th through 8th.
- Wrote and received six grants for Internet connectivity and technology-integrated curriculum projects.
- Managed all technology purchases and led the technology team to ensure the 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.
- Facilitated Chicago Systemic Initiative training - Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking. Curriculum Development Team, and Mathematics Applications in Chicago district pilot programs.
Technology Planner and Facilitator, Applications Instructor
Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public
Springfield, IL
- Professional Growth and Staff Development
Technology Applications Instructor
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
- 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
08.1994
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts, Quantitative Analysis and Computer Applications
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
08.1991
Skills
- Technology Implementation and Integration
- Hardware and Software Integration
- Instructional Technology Specialist
- Technical Support and Assistance
- Learning Management Systems
- Budget and Grants Management
- Universal Design for Learning
- Facilitation and Staff Development Trainer
- Instructional Design and Curriculum Development Specialist
Affiliations
National Staff Development Council
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Penn State Alumni Association
Learning Forward Professional Learning Association
FIRE NSBE Jr. Mentor/Coach
Timeline
Algebra 1 Teacher
HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL
01.2020 - Current
Education Program Specialist
Maryland State Department of Education
01.2011 - 08.2012
Founder - 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
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
Technology Specialist
Office of School Intervention
Teacher / Technology Coordinator
Lawndale Community Math and Science Academy
Technology Planner and Facilitator, Applications Instructor
Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public
Technology Applications Instructor
Lawndale Learning Community
Master of Arts - Curriculum and Instruction
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Arts, Quantitative Analysis and Computer Applications
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
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