Celena Larkey
Angola,IN
Summary
Dedicated educator and curriculum specialist focused on empowering students through effective teaching practices. Proven experience in delivering impactful workshops and mentoring educators to enhance instructional quality. Committed to driving continuous improvement across diverse educational environments.
Overview
1
1
Certification
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Curriculum Writer & Classroom Teacher
MSD Washington Twp
Indianapolis, IN
08.2021 - 08.2026
- Developed and edited K-12 curriculum materials to meet diverse student needs.
- Created engaging lesson plans aligned with state standards and educational objectives.
- Reviewed and revised curricula to ensure alignment with current educational standards.
- Analyzed standardized test data to identify specific areas for curriculum improvement.
- Researched best practices to enhance instructional strategies effectively.
- Facilitated workshops to introduce new curricula to school personnel.
- Gathered stakeholder feedback for iterative enhancements of educational resources.
Founder/Literacy Specialist
Crafted Literacy Collective
Indianapolis, IN
08.2019 - Current
- Collaborated with district and building administration to evaluate and adopt effective literacy curricula for grades Pre K-8.
- Analyzed instructional practices across grade levels, partnering with leadership to devise strategies for achieving instructional goals.
- Mentored literacy coaching teams utilizing comprehensive methods and programs to enhance teaching effectiveness.
- Provided targeted feedback to literacy coaches for implementing best practices across diverse literacy curricula.
- Worked with school leadership to create actionable plans and feedback systems promoting continuous improvement and teacher satisfaction.
- Led learning committees in reviewing and updating vision, philosophy, and curriculum supporting preschool and primary learners.
- Dissected existing literacy programs to inform decisions on curriculum adoption.
Senior Staff Developer
Advancing Literacy/TCRWP
New York, NY
01.2008 - 01.2019
- Delivered keynote speeches at national and international literacy conferences, sharing expertise in literacy instruction.
- Modeled systematic phonics through workshops on guided reading, shared writing, and interactive writing for K-6 teachers and administrators.
- Developed content for beginning and advanced sections of reading, writing, and phonics-focused summer institutes.
- Created professional development cycles for new staff developers to enhance instructional strategies.
- Acted as liaison to resolve conflicts between staff developers and school leadership, fostering collaboration.
- Authored K-5 literacy and content area curricula to align with educational standards.
- Led year-long leadership study groups for principals, assistant principals, literacy coaches, and lead teachers across NYC, NJ, and Connecticut schools.
Classroom Teacher, Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach
MSD of Steuben County & Dekalb Central United School District
Angola & Auburn, IN
01.1999 - 01.2008
- Planned and delivered whole group, small group, and one-on-one instruction to enhance student engagement and literacy skills.
- Instructed students utilizing growth model assessments to refine instructional practices based on analysis.
- Established strong home-school connections with caregivers to foster a supportive learning environment.
- Authored Indiana state standards checklists and assessments for grades 3, 4, and 5 to ensure compliance with educational expectations.
- Collaborated with colleagues to enhance instructional strategies and develop effective teaching resources.
- Assessed student progress through diverse evaluation methods to monitor and evaluate learning outcomes.
Education
Doctor of Education - Organizational Leadership
University of Dayton
Dayton05-2023
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Indiana University
Bloomington05-2008
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Tri-State University
Angola05-1997
Master of Science - Literacy Specialist
Columbia University Teachers College
New York, New York05.2006
Skills
- Content organization
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Mentoring students
- Research and analysis
- Research writing
- Experiential learning methods
- Universal design for learning
Awards & Organizations
Gold Key for Academic Excellence, IATAC Educators Award, International Reading Association, Pokagon Literacy Council, Alwood Award for Excellence in Teaching, Phi Beta Kappa Honors Fraternity, National Council of Teachers of English, MSDWT Teacher of the Year Nominee
Publications
- Writing Reviews, Units of Study in Writing Workshop (Heinemann, 2013)
- Becoming Experts, Units of Study in Reading Workshop (Heinemann, 2015)
- Opinion Writers, U.T.L. Series for Accessing Workshop Grades 3-6 (Heinemann, 2017)
- Marvelous Bloopers, Units of Study in Phonics Workshop (Heinemann, 2018)
- Word Collectors, Units of Study in Phonics Workshop (Heinemann, 2019)
Certification
- National Board Teaching Certification
- Building Level Administrator Certification
- District Level Administrator Certification
Timeline
Curriculum Writer & Classroom Teacher
MSD Washington Twp
08.2021 - 08.2026
Founder/Literacy Specialist
Crafted Literacy Collective
08.2019 - Current
Senior Staff Developer
Advancing Literacy/TCRWP
01.2008 - 01.2019
Classroom Teacher, Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach
MSD of Steuben County & Dekalb Central United School District
01.1999 - 01.2008
Doctor of Education - Organizational Leadership
University of Dayton
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Indiana University
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Tri-State University
Master of Science - Literacy Specialist
Columbia University Teachers College