Catherine Beck
Kingston Springs,TN
Summary
Accomplished education administrator and published author with 25 years' experience in various roles within the education sector.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Superintendent
Cheatham County School District
07.2017 - Current
- Led the school district to highest academic achievement levels in the past 18 years
- Created district wide budgets to supports all district of the district
- Worked with local governing bodies to fund schools
- Created policies and processes for continual improvement
- Created a district wide strategic plan.
Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Learning
Summit County School District
06.2015 - 01.2017
- Oversaw the Summit School District Preschool Program
- EdCampDoTour Organizer
- Created and facilitated weekly Twitter Chats on topics pertinent to education
- Created weekly district emails with resources on various instructional topics
- Implemented professional development through various models including Google Classroom
- Oversaw the Curriculum Revision Cycle district wide
- Participated in the newly developed Graduation Guidelines for 2021
- Implemented a district Wide Peer Observation process
- Implemented a reading intervention process at the middle school
- Worked with various schools to initiate improvement plans based on student achievement
- Oversee the Gifted and Talented Program for the district
- Oversee the International Baccalaureate Program for the district
- Oversee the English Language Development Program for the district
- Direct, plan, and deliver all professional development for the district.
Elementary Principal
Summit County School District
06.2011 - 06.2015
- I led the turnaround process for this dual language elementary school
- I employed teachers from around the world to teach in both English and Spanish within the confines of the International Baccalaureate Curriculum
- Developed a comprehensive collaboration and professional development process for my staff
- Written and have been awarded several grants totaling over $125,000
- Oversaw budget, staffing, and curriculum of grades pre K-5
- Managed and evaluated a staff of 50+ employees
- Won the Governor’s Distinguished Award for Growth 2011,2012,2013,2014
- Won the Top Dual Language Elementary School in the US by the Spanish Embassy, 2013
- Won National School of Best Literacy Practices given by the International Literacy Association, 2015.
High School Principal
Lake County School District
06.2008 - 04.2011
- I led the turnaround process for this rural high school
- I implemented changes in instruction and culture in this high school to result in the winning of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Growth in Student Achievement 2 years in a row
- Also achieved AYP for the first time ever under my leadership
- Implemented Positive Behavior Support framework and reduced discipline referrals by 70%
- Led the implementation of a Peer Observation Process
- Raised the eligibility requirements for all students resulting in a growth in student achievement by 38%
- Closed the Achievement Gap for Academic Growth between ELL students and their English speaking counterparts.
Director of Curriculum
Lake County School District
06.2006 - 06.2008
- I led the district in the process of curriculum mapping for grades K-12 for all content areas
- Instructionally coached 6 high school teachers
- Mentored and sponsored a teacher in an alternative licensure program that resulted in a Special Education license.
Director of Even Start Family Literacy Program
06.2005 - 06.2006
- I directed this multifaceted program that included an early childhood center, Parents as Teachers program, home visits, and adult education.
Elementary teacher
Lauderdale County Schools
08.1989 - 05.2005
- Taught 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th grade classes in all subject areas
- Received high remarks for the creativity of classroom lesson plans and instructional techniques from students, parents and faculty
- Earned positive verbal/written feedback from parents regarding classroom instruction and student learning success
- Achieved score of 87th percentile on state reading and math tests
- Taught Spanish to students in an after school program.
Education
Ed.D - Instructional Leadership
Argosy University
Phoenix, AZ01.2012
Master of Arts - Educational Administration
University of Phoenix
Denver, CO01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL01.1980
Skills
- Skilled in working with a diverse population
- Skilled at working with English Language Learners at all levels Pre K-12
- Professional Association Conference Presentations
- Staff Development
- Leading Change in poor performing schools
- Administrative experience for preschool, elementary, middle, high schools, and district level
- Administrative Principal Coach for Novice Principals in Colorado
- Alignment of Course Objectives, (EDGR 698, Action Research), with InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, MEd program, College of Education, Concordia University - Portland, 2014
- Oversaw Capstone Action Research Projects for graduate students at Concordia University
- Taught Transformational Learning in the Concordia University doctoral program
- Taught Communication, Collaboration, and Culture in the Concordia Doctoral Program
- Taught Action Research for ACE
- Taught Grant Writing for Educators for ACE
- Experienced member of dissertation committees
- MA Education Administration
- EdD Instructional Leadership
- International Baccalaureate
- Gifted and Talented Coordinator
- Positive Behavior Intervention Support Director
- Taught English as a Second Language to adults
- Taught GED classes to adults
- Taught 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th grades
- Taught Action Research Classes, Concordia University
- Taught Assessment for ELL Students, Concordia University
- Taught Language and Culture in the Classroom, Concordia University
- Taught Diverse Learners for ACE
- Taught The Nine Lives of Academic Writing in the Doctoral Program at Concordia University
- Member of Colorado Association of School Executives Association
- Author of Easy and Effective Professional Development: Improving Teaching Through Peer Observation published by Routledge Publishing, Summer, 2014
- Taught Evidence Based Learning in the doctoral program for ACE
- Taught School Improvement in the doctoral program for ACE
- Taught Curriculum and Instructional Design for ACE
- Taught Strengthening Literacy for Educational Leaders for ACE
Accomplishments
- Team Building and Leadership
- Created collaborative school and district wide experience through Peer Observation.
- Implemented school wide coaching model.
- Material Development
- Created Curriculum Mapping template targeting all subject areas, K-12, to plan for effective and complete course delivery.
- Implemented PBIS
- Created a weekly Twitter Chat for Summit School District focusing on relevant topics in education
- Led the accreditation process for current district.
- Research: Performed research and analysis to determine effectiveness of a Peer Observation Program.
- Presented research findings at the Colorado Association of School Executives Conference, 2011, 2013
- Presented findings at both the National Association of Elementary Principals Conference and the National Association of Secondary Principals Conference in 2017.
- Student Development
- Increased student math standardized test scores by 38% by introducing more effective learning techniques such as skill developed intervention groups that also focused on second language instructional strategies.
- Awards
- Governor’s Distinguished Award for Academic Growth, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- International Spanish Academy’s Outstanding Dual Language School Award, 2013
- Colorado Council of International Reading Association’s Exemplary Reading Program Award for the state of CO 2015
- International Literacy Association’s National Exemplary Reading Program Award, 2015
- Tennessee Best for ALL School District Award, 2022
- Unified Champion School District designation 2023
- Presentations
- Colorado Association of School Executives Summer 2013/Summer 2014/Winter2014 presentation: “Every Teacher a Coach.”
- National Association of Elementary School Principals Summer Conference 2015/ “Every Teacher a Coach”
- Colorado Council of International Reading Association Conference 2015: “Creating a Culture of Literacy”
- International Literacy Association Summer Conference 2015 “Establishing an Exemplary Reading Program”
- North Dakota Elementary School Principals Winter Conference, February 2016, “Every Teacher a Coach.”
- Equity and Excellence Conference, Denver, upcoming presentation November 2016, “Leveraging Learning for ELLs.)
- Publications
- “Easy and Effective Professional Development: Using Peer Observation to Improve Student Achievement,” Routledge Publishing, 2012
- “Teachers as Coaches,” Principal Magazine, Sept./Oct 2015
- “Leveraging Learning for ELLs” (Routledge Publishing), 2017
Professionalreferences
- Dr. Donna Wright, drdonnawright@gmail.com, (865)386-6894
- Dr. Danny Weeks, dweeks@rcstn.net, (615)477-4204
- Stacy Brinkley, Stacy.brinkley@ccstn.org, (615)587-2013
Timeline
Superintendent
Cheatham County School District
07.2017 - Current
Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Learning
Summit County School District
06.2015 - 01.2017
Elementary Principal
Summit County School District
06.2011 - 06.2015
High School Principal
Lake County School District
06.2008 - 04.2011
Director of Curriculum
Lake County School District
06.2006 - 06.2008
Director of Even Start Family Literacy Program
06.2005 - 06.2006
Elementary teacher
Lauderdale County Schools
08.1989 - 05.2005
Master of Arts - Educational Administration
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
University of North Alabama
Ed.D - Instructional Leadership
Argosy University
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