Chris De Bruyn
Chicago,IL
Summary
Experienced school leader skilled in motivating teams, achieving Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP) goals, and balancing strategic vision with actionable plans. Proven track record in cultivating strong relationships, fostering a positive school culture, and utilizing a diverse skill set to enhance student and staff achievement.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Regional Gifted Coordinator
Pulaski International School of Chicago
08.2023 - Current
- Support gifted curriculum, curriculum & instruction for the Regional Gifted Center for English Learners program.
- Provide instructional coaching to teachers and staff, focusing on classroom management, student-centered learning, rigor, and culturally-responsive teaching.
- Liaise between teachers and administration, ensuring timely, effective, transparent communication.
- Manage Gifted implementation and alignment to district requirements.
- Strategize and coordinate external Gifted professional development for teachers and staff.
- Create and deliver in-house professional development
- Plan and facilitate grade level team meetings aligned to CIWP priorities.
Middle School Teacher
Orozco / Pulaski International School of Chicago
08.2019 - 08.2023
- Bilingual gifted Language and Literature teacher for middle school.
- Developed curriculum and plan engaging, rigorous lessons for 6th/8th SS, 7th Humanities, 8th Civics and multiple groups of Chess Clubs.
- Led the Service Learning Project Club and researched the impact of lead pipes in our communities.
- Taught gifted and neighborhood cohorts.
- Managed and oversaw over 24 after school clubs including family communication, facility coordination, and budgeting.
- CTU voting delegate.
Middle School Teacher
Metro Nashville Public Schools
05.2017 - 06.2019
- Developed curriculum and planned engaging, rigorous lessons for 7th Science, Social Studies, and ELA.
- Taught 150 creative, brilliant, critical-thinking students.
- Greater Nashville Teach for America (TFA) 2017 Corps Member.
- Attended 2018 Tennessee Summit with Leaders for Educational Equity (LEE).
Financial Advisor
Thrivent Financial
01.2014 - 05.2017
- Built relationships and partnerships with dozens of local and national non-profits/businesses.
- Utilized Salesforce to establish a rapidly growing client base with nearly $10M AUM through strong sales.
- Organized, marketed, and presented at over 20 financial literacy and community development events.
- Developed deep analyses of clients’ financial goals and crafted custom solutions within their budgets.
Co-founder/Contributing Editor
Development Now
01.2011 - 08.2013
- Managed multiple community development projects including the Green Music and Arts Festival and Climate Action Day. Fundraised for projects.
- Designed and launched developmentnow.org, a site improving developmental projects in Iraq.
- Trained dozens of Development Now members on project planning/management/implementation.
Founder and Owner
Chris De Bruyn Photography
01.2010 - 08.2013
- Held fundraising photography auctions in Mongolia, Iraq, and the US to raise over $5,000 for nonprofits.
- Led the Photography Club at the American University of Iraq, and mentored numerous students.
- Published in National Geographic Magazine - International Edition. 2013, 2009.
- Solo exhibit and lecture ("Constructing Kurdistan"). U.C. Berkeley. 2011.
Senior English Lecturer
American University of Iraq- Sulaimani
08.2009 - 08.2013
- Promoted to Discipline Coordinator for APP’s Listening and Speaking program, managed five employees.
- Served as the faculty advisor to the university’s organizational and community leadership clubs.
- Taught English to Iraqi, Syrian, and Iranian students in AUIS’ university preparatory program APP.
- Facilitated a session on interactive methods during APP teachers’ pre-semester orientation.
Advisor
Nature Iraq/Waterkeepers Iraq Advisory Group
11.2011 - 03.2013
- Advised the NGO on organizational strategy.
- Developed organizational policies and advocated for strategic partnerships.
- Brainstormed/assessed engaging projects to improve the environment in Iraq.
Communications Officer
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
06.2012 - 08.2012
- Redesigned key sections on the university Drupal website and regularly updated with fresh content.
- Spearheaded improved software procurement, increasing efficiency for photo editing/archives.
- Expanded social media presence, increased Facebook page 'likes' over 250% within 1.5 months.
Teacher Trainer
Darkhan school #15
06.2008 - 08.2009
- Co-taught 4th grade-11th grade classes with Mongolian counterparts.
- Gave monthly seminars to area English teachers over myriad topics; communicative methods, total physical response, using music in the classroom, listening and speaking activities, and classroom management.
- Presented monthly seminars to Mongolian high school students on Trafficking in Persons, anti-smoking and anti-drinking.
- Wrote and was awarded grant through Mercy Corps and Nike Corporation to equip Darkhan and other area schools with sports equipment and sport team uniforms.
Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps Volunteer
05.2007 - 08.2009
- Trained LCFs (Language and Cultural Facilitators) and M19 PCVs on useful teaching methods.
- Judged 2008 regional English Olympics, JCI’s English competition, planned and judged Agricultural University’s English competition.
- Taught eco-tourism students at Darhan’s University of Agriculture.
Head English Methodologist
Ulaanbaatar Department of Education
07.2007 - 06.2008
- Presented at International Conference on Education Reform, 2007. On "the Primary and Secondary Education Systems in the U.S." Nationally televised on MNB (Mongolia National Broadcasting).
- Held 3-month intensive English training course for 16 Russian language teachers.
- Offered bi-weekly communicative methods workshop.
EFL Teacher
Hansaem Institute
06.2006 - 07.2007
- Created individualized teaching materials; developed a variety of lesson plans utilizing multimedia.
- Taught various ages: from early elementary (6 years) to middle school (16 years).
- Taught a broad range of classes: alphabet introduction, conversation and reading comprehension.
High School Spanish and ESL Co-teacher
09.2005 - 06.2006
- Practicum through Michigan State University.
Assistant EFL Teacher
06.2005 - 08.2005
- Practicum through study abroad to Volgograd, Russia through Michigan State University.
- Volunteered teaching English to native Russians.
- Assisted in teaching small classes as well as individual tutoring.
Education
M. Ed. - Instructional Practice
Lipscomb University
01.2018
M.B.A. - International Leadership and Management
American University of Iraq
01.2013
B.A. - Spanish
Michigan State University
01.2006
Skills
- Languages: Native English, Near-native Spanish, Advanced Mongolian, Conversational Kurdish
- PD design & facilitation
- CPS IEP/504 Interpreter
- Marketing
- Systems and structures
- Tech savvy - Google productivity tools, CPS apps & platforms
- Photography and graphic design
- Data-informed strategy
Certification
IL Professional Educators License. 5-8 Social Studies, 5-8 Reading, Bilingual, ESL endorsements.
Languages
English
Spanish
Mongolian
Kurdish
Timeline
Regional Gifted Coordinator
Pulaski International School of Chicago
08.2023 - Current
Middle School Teacher
Orozco / Pulaski International School of Chicago
08.2019 - 08.2023
Middle School Teacher
Metro Nashville Public Schools
05.2017 - 06.2019
Financial Advisor
Thrivent Financial
01.2014 - 05.2017
Communications Officer
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
06.2012 - 08.2012
Advisor
Nature Iraq/Waterkeepers Iraq Advisory Group
11.2011 - 03.2013
Co-founder/Contributing Editor
Development Now
01.2011 - 08.2013
Founder and Owner
Chris De Bruyn Photography
01.2010 - 08.2013
Senior English Lecturer
American University of Iraq- Sulaimani
08.2009 - 08.2013
Teacher Trainer
Darkhan school #15
06.2008 - 08.2009
Head English Methodologist
Ulaanbaatar Department of Education
07.2007 - 06.2008
Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps Volunteer
05.2007 - 08.2009
EFL Teacher
Hansaem Institute
06.2006 - 07.2007
High School Spanish and ESL Co-teacher
09.2005 - 06.2006
Assistant EFL Teacher
06.2005 - 08.2005
M.B.A. - International Leadership and Management
American University of Iraq
B.A. - Spanish
Michigan State University
M. Ed. - Instructional Practice
Lipscomb University
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