Catherine Williams
Rockville,MD
Summary
Dedicated First Grade Classroom Teacher with a proven record of fostering student growth and engagement through innovative lesson plans aligned with educational standards. Recognized with the 2022 Archdiocese of Washington Golden Apple Award. Skilled in classroom management and building strong relationships with students and parents, effectively enhancing learning through tailored curriculum development and individualized instruction.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
First Grade Classroom Teacher
St. Raphael’s Catholic School
Rockville, MD
01.2018 - Current
- Delivered explicit, research-based literacy instruction using a combination of methods from Orton-Gillingham Plus, Heggerty, and the Science of Reading.
- Implemented developmentally appropriate, hands-on math instruction to strengthen conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills.
- Differentiated instruction to meet diverse learning needs and support student growth across academic and social domains.
- Created a safe, inclusive, and nurturing classroom environment using the Responsive Classroom approach to support social-emotional development and positive behavior.
- Fostered home-school partnerships through weekly communication with families via emails and ClassDojo, enhancing family engagement in student learning.
- Collaborated with administrators and colleagues to align classroom management strategies and behavior expectations with school-wide initiatives, reinforcing a unified approach to student success.
Nursery School Teacher
St. Raphael’s Catholic School
Rockville, MD
08.2015 - 05.2018
- Developed and delivered engaging lessons and learning centers that enhanced language development, fine motor skills, and problem-solving for children ages 3–5.
- Implemented developmentally appropriate, play-based instructional strategies to build early literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills foundational to early elementary learning.
- Monitored and supported individual student growth to ensure school readiness and smooth transition to kindergarten and primary grades.
- Collaborated with parents through consistent communication to strengthen learning goals, routines, and positive behavior strategies at home and school.
Private Tutor - Handwriting Without Tears
Self Employed
Rockville, MD
06.2013 - 08.2015
- Developed and delivered engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons with art, visuals, and hands-on materials, enhancing understanding and sustaining student engagement.
- Applied positive reinforcement, repetition, and review, helping students master challenging concepts and boost confidence.
- Identified skill gaps and provided targeted guidance, enabling students to complete homework assignments and strengthen foundational academic skills.
Kindergarten Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
Rockville, MD
08.2001 - 01.2003
Reading Initiative & Reading Recovery Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
Rockville, MD
08.2000 - 06.2001
Second Grade Classroom Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
Rockville, MD
08.1998 - 06.1999
Second Grade Classroom Teacher
Prince George County Public Schools
Upper Marlboro, MD
08.1996 - 06.1998
Fifth Grade Classroom Teacher
Prince George County Public Schools
Upper Marlboro, MD
10.1995 - 06.1996
Education
Master of Arts - Elementary Education
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD06-1998
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education K-8, General Science Education 5-8, Early Childhood PreK-K
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV05-1995
Skills
- Early childhood education
- Literacy instruction
- Math instruction
- Differentiated instruction
- Classroom management
- Parent communication
- Growth mindset
Special Training
- Responsive Classroom
- Orton-Gillingham Plus
- Six-Shifts (Shifting the Balance) K-2, 2-5
- Multisensory Math
- Graham Fletcher - Foundations of Numeracy
- Handwriting without Tears
Personal Information
Profession: Teacher
Timeline
First Grade Classroom Teacher
St. Raphael’s Catholic School
01.2018 - Current
Nursery School Teacher
St. Raphael’s Catholic School
08.2015 - 05.2018
Private Tutor - Handwriting Without Tears
Self Employed
06.2013 - 08.2015
Kindergarten Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
08.2001 - 01.2003
Reading Initiative & Reading Recovery Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
08.2000 - 06.2001
Second Grade Classroom Teacher
Montgomery County Public Schools
08.1998 - 06.1999
Second Grade Classroom Teacher
Prince George County Public Schools
08.1996 - 06.1998
Fifth Grade Classroom Teacher
Prince George County Public Schools
10.1995 - 06.1996
Master of Arts - Elementary Education
Loyola University Maryland
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education K-8, General Science Education 5-8, Early Childhood PreK-K
West Virginia University