Shirley Ricart Underhill
Danbury,CT
Summary
Motivated, structured, tenacious individual who is passionate about education. As an experienced change agent, demonstrated willingness to effect change by leading and motivating a team and by making difficult decisions. Positive attitude and collaborative minded.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Principal
John Winthrop Elementary School
Current - Current
- Initiated, designed, and implemented a school-wide restructure plan
- Co-created and monitored school improvement plan
- Introduced research-based language acquisition strategies, including SIOP approach, to support multilingual learners
- Collaborated with staff to foster a responsive data culture, using student data to inform instructional practices
- Conducted student focus groups to gather feedback and inform administrative practices
- Worked closely with staff to implement restorative practice approaches, reducing student discipline referrals
- Conduct regular classroom observations to ensure that the delivery of instructional services to students is appropriate, challenging, engaging, standard-based, interactive, culturally sensitive, and related to their personal experiences
- Plan and engage teachers in meaningful professional development programs, conducting demonstration lessons, organizing mentorship programs, and providing resources and materials
- Assisted with the design and implementation of the school schedule
- Designed and implemented Peer Mentoring Program.
- Partnered with principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment.
- Supported a positive school culture by addressing student behavior concerns promptly and effectively.
- Enhanced teacher effectiveness through regular classroom observations and feedback sessions.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Established intervention programs for struggling students, improving overall academic achievement levels at the school.
- Improved school performance by developing and implementing data-driven instructional strategies.
- Analyzed standardized test results to identify areas of improvement in instruction methods and curriculum content.
BPS Facilitator
UCLA ExcEL Leadership Academy
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Implementation, facilitation, and expansion of UCLA ExcEL Leadership Academy to provide teachers with the foundational learning needed to meet the needs of multilingual learners
- Coach, mentor and site facilitator.
BPS EL Instructional Specialist
Bridgeport Board of Education
08.2021 - 10.2022
- Modeled and monitored instruction to ensure that K-12 ESL/Bilingual teachers were utilizing research-based instructional strategies that included SIOP and Project BeGLAD to accelerate English Language Proficiency and improve student outcomes
- Ensured that program goals, activities, instruction were aligned with current research as well as Federal and State policy/guidelines
- Collaborated with the Bilingual Department Director and teachers to plan, implement and evaluate instructional programs
- Provided meaningful professional development that enhanced teacher’s understanding of cultural awareness, second language acquisition, application of research-based instructional strategies for ELs, implementation of standards-based instruction, improve student engagement, increase English language and literacy skills, and interpreting data to inform instruction
- Assisted in the implementation of department Data Teams by accessing and utilizing assessment data (LASLinks, CSDE/district assessment data) to drive teaching and learning.
Teacher, ESL Harding H.S.
Bridgeport Board of Education
01.2013 - 01.2021
- Planned, organized, and provided instruction in English in the Core Curriculum Content Standards and CELP (CT English Language Proficiency)
- Developed and delivered lesson plans utilizing a broad range of appropriate differentiated techniques and strategies addressing all aspects of communication that develop each student’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen in content areas at levels that ensure learners meet or exceed learning targets, and allow English learners to meaningfully access the district’s instructional program
- Administered academic and language assessments for the purpose of evaluating student’s progress in meeting academic learning targets and progress in language acquisition
- Maintained and completed records of student’s progress and evidence of growth and progress
- Provided a nurturing, supportive, and positive learning environment with high expectations that encourage student responsibility, enhance motivation, clearly communicate classroom routines, and incorporate challenging instructional strategies
- Facilitated frequent and effective home‐school communication by coordinating: conferences; written communication; parent trainings and other meetings/events
- Attended professional English Language Acquisition meetings as well as serves on building or district committees, and attend staff meetings as may be requested or as established by school policy
- Advocated for the program needs that are required to meet the learning needs of English learner.
Director, Early Childhood
Community Action Committee of Danbury (CACD)
Executive Director
Western CT Association for Human Rights, Inc
Director- Head Start
Head Start of Northern Fairfield County
Pre-School Director
United Federation of Black Community Organizations
Director of Education
Arthur Eugene & Thelma Adair Community Life Head Start
NYC Public School Teacher
Bronx
Education
MA - School Leadership and Administration
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, CTMA - Bilingual Education
City College of New York
New York, NYBA - Psychology
Hofstra University
New YorkSkills
- Strategic Planning
- Staff Management
- Community Outreach
- Bilingual-Spanish
- SIOP Trainer
- Grant writing and program development
- Program compliance for State and Federally funded programs
- Certified trainer in Guided Language Acquisition Design- BeGLAD
- Licensed trainer in: Facilitating Restorative Conferences through the International Institute for Restorative Practices
- Experience designing TEAM Mentor Training Modules
Certification
- CT Intermediate Administration Certification (092), CT
- CT TESOL Certification, CT
- SIOP Professional Trainer of Trainers Certification
- BeGLAD Certified Trainer
- Connecticut Early Childhood Director’s Certification, CT
Professional Assignments Committees
Present:
Board member, Danbury Board of Education Family Literacy Center
Trainer- BeGLAD- Language and Literacy Acquisition Model,
Trainer- SIOP, ESL Summit Committee, Bridgeport BOE
Former:
State of CT Governor appointed Director, State Independent Living Council, CT- Vice President,
ADA Coalition of CT- Vice President,
President of Connecticut Head Start Association
The Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury, Board Member
Community task forces and other groups-Ageing in Place, Danbury Continuum of Care Steering Committee
Governor's Early Childhood Cabinet- Kindergarten Transition Team, Ready by Five, Fine by Nine- Community Focus group
Timeline
Assistant Principal
John Winthrop Elementary School
Current - Current
BPS EL Instructional Specialist
Bridgeport Board of Education
08.2021 - 10.2022
BPS Facilitator
UCLA ExcEL Leadership Academy
01.2020 - 01.2023
Teacher, ESL Harding H.S.
Bridgeport Board of Education
01.2013 - 01.2021
Director, Early Childhood
Community Action Committee of Danbury (CACD)
Executive Director
Western CT Association for Human Rights, Inc
Director- Head Start
Head Start of Northern Fairfield County
Pre-School Director
United Federation of Black Community Organizations
Director of Education
Arthur Eugene & Thelma Adair Community Life Head Start
NYC Public School Teacher
Bronx
MA - School Leadership and Administration
Sacred Heart University
MA - Bilingual Education
City College of New York
BA - Psychology
Hofstra University
- CT Intermediate Administration Certification (092), CT
- CT TESOL Certification, CT
- SIOP Professional Trainer of Trainers Certification
- BeGLAD Certified Trainer
- Connecticut Early Childhood Director’s Certification, CT
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