Writing Pedagogy
Literacy Pedagogy
Writing Conferences
Multilingual Learners
Collaboration
Research
Diversity and Inclusivity
Community Engagement and Advocacy
Christina Esposito
Wallingford
Summary
Passionate and experienced educator with a Master of Science in English and a strong background in teaching English at various educational levels. Skilled in working with students of diverse backgrounds, designing engaging curriculum, fostering a supportive learning environment, and guiding students towards academic and personal growth. Actively engages in reflection, research, and collaboration with colleagues to implement best practices in the classroom. Enthusiastic about returning to work in higher education.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Adjunct English Lecturer
Southern Connecticut State University
01.2016 - Current
- Designs engaging and relevant syllabi, assignments, and lessons to develop and strengthen students’ critical, analytical, and creative reading, writing, and thinking abilities.
- Fosters a safe, respectful, and expressive learning environment and community by developing a strong rapport with students.
- Continually adjusts instructional methods and materials based on student needs and assessment results.
- Provides specific and timely feedback on assignments and assessments with opportunities for student revision.
- Assists and guides students in reaching their larger and varied academic and career goals through the application of skills learned in the course.
- Applies Multilingual Learner training to work closely and successfully with students learning English.
- Conferences with students regularly to problem solve, discuss ideas, and assess progress.
- Continually conducts research on current best practices for teaching argument writing and applies new knowledge to course instruction.
- Utilizes Blackboard and the Microsoft Office suite to enhance the learning environment.
7th and 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Dodd Middle School
08.2021 - Current
- Establishes a safe and compassionate classroom community guided by student interest and collaboration through the use of restorative circles and the teaching of self-management and social-emotional skills.
- Ensures students' academic and emotional well being by continuously assessing and adjusting teaching strategies to meet students where they are at and lead them forward.
- Tailors lessons, assignments, and literacy strategies to each class and individual student; strengthening reading comprehension and fluency evidenced by the increase in reading lexile scores.
- Designs and incorporates various writing lessons, assignments, and strategies to help students find ideas, gather evidence, organize, draft, and strengthen their voices.
- Collaborates daily with special education teachers to differentiate lessons in order to reach every type of learner and ensure the success of students with varying abilities.
High School English Teacher
Woodland Regional High School
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Enacted best practices in hybrid teaching/dual teaching that encouraged students to find creative and safe ways to continue to grow, problem solve, and learn during Covid-19.
- Facilitated individual and collaborative project based learning that encourages students to critically and creatively think about and solve real world problems.
- Fostered student participation in discussions of diverse texts to promote critical and creative thinking.
- Strengthened love of reading and reading comprehension as well as love of writing and writing skills.
High School English Teacher
Cheshire High School
12.2018 - 06.2020
- Adapted quickly and effectively to remote teaching by working closely with students, parents, and staff to promote both successful learning as well as social and emotional stability in the 2019-2020 school year.
- Absorbed the five courses of a teacher who passed during the 2018-2019 school year and guided our students through ensuring their academic and emotional well being with a compassionate, safe, and open classroom environment. (These courses included grade level and co-taught 9th grade World Literature, Honors 10th Grade World Literature, 12th Grade Writer’s Workshop, and AP Language and Composition with 95% of students scoring a 3 or higher on the AP Lang Exam).
- Guided students to find opportunities outside of the high school classroom to further push and challenge their reading and writing interests with many acceptances into collegiate summer writing programs.
7th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Hamden Middle School
08.2018 - 12.2018
- Founded a safe, caring, and welcoming classroom geared toward transitioning students from elementary school to middle school.
- Integrated various literacy activities focused on improving reading comprehension and writing ability.
- Identified at-risk students and worked with parents and faculty to provide students with the help they needed to succeed.
- Communicated regularly and frequently with parents, students, teachers, and administrators to reach high standards for student learning and behavior.
- Met often with students one-on-one to develop strategies for positively navigating their new academic and social world.
Education
MS - English
Southern Connecticut State University
05.2019
CT Provisional Educator Certification in English -
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven01-2018
UConn ECE Certification For Engl 1011, Seminar in -
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT06-2021
BA - English
Southern Connecticut State University
05.2012
Skills
- Analytical, critical, and creative thinking
- Problem solving skills
- Collaboration with colleagues
- Conducting best practice research
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives
- Individualized and differentiated instruction
- Leadership
- Literacy Strategies
- Multilingual Learners
- Research based written arguments
- Writing Conferences
- Conversational Italian
Additional Work Experience
- Assistant Baker
- Lucibello’s Italian Pastry Shop, New Haven, CT | 2009-present
- Prepares a variety of scratch desserts, including Italian pastries, cakes, and cookies.
- Pipes icing and decorates cakes for diverse needs and occasions.
- Provides exemplary customer service, resolving any problems quickly and professionally.
Interests
Languages
Italian
Accomplishments
Creator of Dodd Middle School’s Executive Functioning I-block
August 2022- present
● Collaborates with school counselors to create a structured block of time for students to learn and practice executive functioning skills.
● Designed weekly lessons and resources to aid students in their growth of executive functioning skills.
Co-Advisor of Dodd Middle School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Club August 2021-June 2022
● Collaborated with co-advisors to develop the mission statement and goals for the club.
● Met regularly with members to assist with creation of events and initiatives that promote justice,
inclusion, and equity.
Selected Member for Region 16’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee January 2021- June 2022
● Assisted with the creation of the committee and the subgroup of community out-reach.
● Met regularly to identify problem areas in the school system concerning diversity, equity and inclusion
and create solutions/interventions to address those areas.
Southern Connecticut State University’s School of Education Dean’s Student Leadership Group Jan 2017-June 2019
● Problem solved by collaborating with pre-service and employed teachers to tackle current social justice
problems in our education system.
● Developed meetings based around student leadership in education and educator preparation. ● Advocated and spoke with other Connecticut teachers and legislators.
Conference Speaker
Accepted Presenter at the National Council of Teachers of English, Nov. 2020 "Navigating "Political": Novice Teachers Finding Our Footing in Confluence" (canceled due to Covid) National Council of Teachers of English. Denver, CO ⎥ November 2020
“Teaching for Equity and Justice with Young Adult Literature” and “More Than Just a Good Story: Using Young Adult Literature and Anti-Racist Pedagogy to Engage Student Voice in Confronting Systems of Power”
CT Council of Teachers of English. CCSU, New Britain, CT ⎥ March 30, 2019
National Council of Teachers of English. Houston, TX ⎥ November 2018
“Pre-service Teachers’ Journeys in Literacy and Teaching”
National Council of Teachers of English. St. Louis, MO. ⎥November 2017
“Rediscovering the I Search”
Southern Connecticut State University’s English Department Colloquium. ⎥ December 2016.
“Comparing Outcomes of Face to Face and Online Writing Conferences Between Instructor and Student”
Annual Conference on Teaching of Writing. UCONN. ⎥ March 2016.
Southern Connecticut State University’s English Department Graduate Colloquium. ⎥April 2016.
Awards
Graduate Teaching Assistant
English 110: Fundamentals of Argumentative Writing, Southern Connecticut State University ⎥ Fall 2015
● Planned and taught a writing unit focused on strengthening students’ synthesis and revision skills.
● Evaluated student work using both rubrics and written comments.
● Helped students create strategies to overcome their specific literacy obstacles.
Teacher of the Year Nominations
Dodd Middle School, Cheshire, CT⎥ Spring 2025
● Nominated for the district's Teacher of the Year award by parents and colleagues.
Timeline
7th and 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Dodd Middle School
08.2021 - Current
High School English Teacher
Woodland Regional High School
08.2020 - 06.2021
High School English Teacher
Cheshire High School
12.2018 - 06.2020
7th Grade Language Arts Teacher
Hamden Middle School
08.2018 - 12.2018
Adjunct English Lecturer
Southern Connecticut State University
01.2016 - Current
BA - English
Southern Connecticut State University
MS - English
Southern Connecticut State University
CT Provisional Educator Certification in English -
Southern Connecticut State University
UConn ECE Certification For Engl 1011, Seminar in -
University of Connecticut
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