Courtney H. Branch
2558 Snow Creek Rd. NE, Hickory, NC 28601,NC
Summary
Seasoned Middle School ELA Teacher and Program Director with over 29 years of experience in educational settings, including Catawba County Schools. Expert in curriculum design and personalized learning, showcasing a blend of strategic leadership and innovative teaching strategies. Excelled in fostering community connections and enhancing student engagement and achievement. Proficient in Google and Microsoft suites, embodying teamwork and adaptability.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Middle School ELA Teacher
Catawba County Schools
Hickory, NC
08.2011 - Current
- Helped develop strong verbal and written communication skills by leading students through listening, speaking, reading and writing activities.
- Educated students on spelling, grammar and language rules through developmentally appropriate curriculum.
- Used videos, lectures and moderated discussions to engage students during class.
- Attended variety of professional development workshops centered on learning goals, classroom management, student motivation and engaging learning activities.
- Determined lesson objectives and clearly communicated to students.
- Differentiated instruction for students with wide range of skill and interest levels.
- Devised lesson plans aligned with curriculum and met varying student needs.
- Checked student academic progress by completing verbal exercises, grading assignments and using mandated examinations.
Middle School ELA Teacher
Burke County Public Schools
Valdese, NC
08.2003 - 06.2011
- Co-taught all 8th grade inclusion students with the special education teacher.
- Promoted student growth by encouraging independent thinking, judgment and thought expression.
- Differentiated instruction for students with wide range of skill and interest levels.
- Same job duties as listed in current job.
Even Start Family Literacy Program Director
J. Iverson Riddle Development Center
Morganton, NC
01.2001 - 07.2003
- Managed program operations and provided strategic leadership for workers.
- Facilitated staff meetings and educational work sessions to strengthen staff competencies.
- Monitored program operations for compliance with policies and procedures, applicable standards and relevant contractual policy.
- Initiated and set goals for programs according to strategic objectives of organization.
- Collected key program data and analysis to support continuous improvement.
- Hired and developed staff members to collaboratively achieve program goals.
- Fostered community connections and networks, driving collaborations with local organizations and businesses.
- Wrote proposals and reports for general and specific program support.
- Administered budgets and monitored expenditures to keep program operations aligned with budget targets.
- Completed grant applications with supporting documentation to secure funding proposals, grant application narratives and budgets to finalize with development prior to submittal.
Social Worker
Caldwell County Department of Social Services
Lenoir, NC
06.1994 - 01.2001
- Maintained thorough case history records and wrote detailed reports.
- Developed and implemented social service interventions to achieve treatment goals and address client needs.
- Interviewed clients individually and in family groups to determine services to best address specific needs.
- Developed workable solutions for recurring problems for individuals and families.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team of mental health case managers and disability workers.
- Visited clients at residence for home study assessments to assist courts with custody decisions.
- Educated patients and caregivers on community resources and post-acute level of care criteria, benefits and coverage.
- Directed protective placement, case management, parent education and family reunification activities.
Education
Master of Arts - Reading Education
08.2007
Bachelor of Arts - English & Psychology
05.1993
Skills
- Licensed in NC in English Language Arts and Social Studies for middle grades and Reading Education for K-12
- Fully trained in Gifted Education, differentiation, and personalized learning
- Extensive training in personalized instruction and curriculum design
- Fully trained in Special Education Co-Teaching, IEP implementation, and response-to-intervention procedures and strategies
- Knowledgeable About Google services such as Document, Slides, Sheets, Meet, and Classroom as well as Canvas
- Knowledgeable About Microsoft programs such as Work, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Knowledgeable About Distance Education
- strategies such as Google Meet, Zoom, Classroom Relay, Screencastify, YouTube Channel for Education, Edpuzzle, Kami, and Canva
- Worked successfully on teams for 29 years Lead the Language Arts department for the last 7 years
Affiliations
- National Board Certified English Language Arts teacher since November 21, 2008.
- Teacher of the Year, Arndt Middle School 2018 - 2019
- Selected to represent my school as part of a 3 year commitment to the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC), which is an intensive training to approach writing equity and rigor which included training and mentoring other teachers at my school and within the district.
- Volunteered to represent my school in a summer workshop "Increasing the Rigor of Learning-Focused Lessons: HIgher Order Thinking, Reading and Writing" and share lessons with other teachers at my school.
- Invited by administration to participate as a panelist for professional development for district teachers to share best practices of successful online teachers.
Timeline
Middle School ELA Teacher - Catawba County Schools
08.2011 - Current
Middle School ELA Teacher - Burke County Public Schools
08.2003 - 06.2011
Even Start Family Literacy Program Director - J. Iverson Riddle Development Center
01.2001 - 07.2003
Social Worker - Caldwell County Department of Social Services
06.1994 - 01.2001
Appalachian State University - Master of Arts, Reading Education
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill - Bachelor of Arts, English & Psychology
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