Craig E. Lira-Waguespack
Humble
Summary
Experienced High School Social Studies Teacher in a student-centered school district. Dedicated to providing a highly challenging educational environment. Possesses 20 years of teaching experience and a well-developed collection of skills in district-level curriculum and formative assessments. Recognizes the importance of addressing students' individual and ever-changing needs. Passionate about delivering instruction in a variety of ways to ensure their success. Fosters effective communication and builds strong relationships with students, parents, and the school community. Strives to create a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
AP US History and US History Teacher
North Shore Senior High School
08.2024 - Current
- Assessed student progress regularly through formative and summative assessments, providing timely feedback for improvement.
- Enhanced students'' critical thinking skills by incorporating primary sources and historical artifacts into daily lessons.
- Mentored new teachers in the department, sharing best practices for lesson planning, assessment design, and classroom management techniques.
- Prepared various classroom activities and assessment methods to promote retention of study materials.
- Created lesson plans, course materials and homework assignments covering established coursework and textbook information.
- Utilized pre-made and self-made assessments to determine student weaknesses and strengths.
- Developed curriculum materials that met the unique needs of gifted learners, ensuring all students were challenged and engaged.
- Enhanced students'' writing abilities through constructive feedback, individual conferences, and structured revision processes.
Specialist, History
Galena Park ISD
07.2021 - 08.2024
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Developed curriculum materials that aligned with state standards, ensuring comprehensive coverage of required content.
- Mentored new teachers in effective instructional strategies, contributing to a supportive professional community within the school.
- Collaborated with other teachers to share best practices and implement effective teaching strategies across the school.
- Developed solutions to improve performance.
- Reviewed teacher performance and suggested improvements.
- Coordinated departmental teams to successfully integrate new educational programs.
- Liaised between faculty, staff and administrators to coordinate educational program delivery.
- Created lessons and online materials to facilitate remote learning.
- Prepared quizzes, tests and examinations to gauge how well students were learning.
- Developed and delivered informative and engaging presentations on various topics, leading to increased knowledge retention among attendees.
- Customized presentation style based on audience demographics, adapting tone and language to suit different groups'' needs.
U.S. History Teacher 8th Grade /Department Chair
Woodland Acres Middle School
01.2018 - 08.2021
- Instructed through PowerPoint visual, discussions, and projects in American History and Geography
- Planned and conducted hands-on activities to provide students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate
- Used targeted strategies to increase student scores from 41% on STAAR to 73% in 2019
- UIL Academic Decathlon for 8th-grade tournaments
U.S. History Teacher 8th Grade /Department Chair
Frank Black Middle School
01.2011 - 01.2018
- Teach U.S
- History in a Pre-AP and Vanguard classroom for 4 classes daily with up to 34 students per class, applying compacting and tiered instruction in a block-scheduling program
- Department Chair for Social Studies served as a lead teacher in the implementation of curriculum and teaching as well as professional development opportunities for teachers
- Also, assisted in researching and implementation of best practices in curriculum and instruction and worked collaboratively with counterparts on various campuses
- Plan learning opportunities in the classroom that integrate higher-order thinking, cooperative and hands-on activities in both teacher and student-led environments
- EF Tour leader for Washington D.C./Colonial Williamsburg
U.S. History Teacher 8th Grade /PLC Leader
Cunningham Middle School
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Instructed through PowerPoint visual, discussions, and projects in American History and Geography
- Planned and conducted hands-on activities to provide students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate
- UIL Academic Decathalon for 8th-grade tournaments
5th Grade Language Arts
Lillian Hunt Stehlik Intermediate
01.2005 - 01.2007
Education
Master of Arts - History (American History)
American Military University
Charleston, WV01.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Houston
Houston, TexasBachelor of Arts - History
University of Houston
HoustonOral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma01.1996
Skills
- Social studies curriculum development
- Instructional strategies
- Department specific leadership
- Multidisciplinary lessons
- Educational technology
- Differentiated instruction
- Classroom management
- Collaboration
- Data analysis
- Cooperative learning
- Growth mindset
- Class debates
- Group discussions
- Peer-partner learning
- Writing infusion
- Graphic organizers
- Organizational practices
- Integration of historical artifacts
- Use of visual resources
- Technology integration
- Training teachers on technology
- Web 20 tools
- Assessment design
- Historical analysis
Teaching Methods
- Emphasize cooperative learning, high student expectations with a growth mindset in an encouraging classroom environment.
- Teach the use of class debates as well as group discussions/think-pair-share/peer-partner learning to gain a student cooperative learning environment.
- Teach an infusion of writing through graphic organizers, reading, collaboration, and organizational practices that are used both in and out of the classroom.
- Integrate historical artifacts, flags, and visual resources to bring history alive as well as to bring the museum to the classroom.
Technology Integration
Continuous use of technology and programs used in class, utilizing a variety of resources to be engaging and to bring history alive in class., Provide training to teachers on district-provided technologies., Develop lessons to help teachers integrate technology and web 2.0 tools into their classrooms., Attend conferences and training to further grow in technology programs and understanding.
Certifications
Texas State Certification, Generalist with ESL (4-8), History (9-12)
07/12, AP G/T Summer Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX
Awards
- Teacher of the Year, Woodland Acres MS, 2019
- Inducted into the International Honor Society in Social Studies (Pi Gamma Mu), 2017
- Inducted into The Historical Studies Honor Society (AMU), 2017
- Nominated for Teacher of the Year, Frank Black MS, 2017
- Grant Award Receiver for Colonial Williamsburg HERO Educational Trip, 2015
- Grant Award Receiver for Boston Educational Trip (HISD), 2014
- Nominated for Teacher of the Year, Hamilton MS, 2012 & 2013
- Nominated for Teacher of the Year, Cunningham MS, 2010
Continuing Education
07/16, AVID National Conference, San Antonio, TX
07/15, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown Teacher Grant, Williamsburg, VA
07/14, Boston and Yorktown HISD Teacher Grant, Boston, MA
07/07 - 07/19, Region IV Social Studies Conference
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
Hebrew
Native or Bilingual
Arabic
Professional Working
Timeline
AP US History and US History Teacher
North Shore Senior High School
08.2024 - Current
Specialist, History
Galena Park ISD
07.2021 - 08.2024
U.S. History Teacher 8th Grade /Department Chair
Woodland Acres Middle School
01.2018 - 08.2021
U.S. History Teacher 8th Grade /Department Chair
Frank Black Middle School
01.2011 - 01.2018
U.S. History Teacher 8th Grade /PLC Leader
Cunningham Middle School
01.2007 - 01.2011
5th Grade Language Arts
Lillian Hunt Stehlik Intermediate
01.2005 - 01.2007
Oral Roberts University
Master of Arts - History (American History)
American Military University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
University of Houston
Bachelor of Arts - History
University of Houston
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