Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Timeline
Generic

CYNTHIA S. LEAL

Summary

Highly motivated, dedicated, and passionate educator and sign language interpreter with over twenty-eight years of classroom teaching and educational leadership experience. Collaborative and motivated professional focused on continuous improvement of curriculum and instructional effectiveness, student achievement, and building positive relationships with teachers, staff, parents, and students.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Sign Language Interpreter

ProCare Therapy
08.2021 - 06.2024
  • Provided sign language interpretation services both in-person and remotely for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students in grades K-5 at Rollan Melton and Hidden Valley Elementary Schools.
  • Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
  • Facilitated communication between Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals and their hearing teachers and peers.
  • Attended training programs and workshops to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.

Teacher for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students

ProCare Therapy
09.2020 - 04.2021
  • Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to Deaf/Hard of Hearing students at Rosa Taylor Elementary School through remote, in-person, and hybrid models.
  • Provided interpreting services to students in the general education classroom environment.
  • Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.

Special Education Teacher

The Stepping Stones Group
09.2019 - 05.2020
  • Provided instruction and support services to students with Hearing Loss, Autism and Specific Learning Disabilities at The Academy for Classical Education.
  • Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
  • Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.

Assistant Principal

Midway Hills Academy
07.2016 - 06.2019
  • Supervised and evaluated teaching and support staff through instructional leadership and professional development.
  • Modeled expected and appropriate leadership to promote faculty and staff's positive interaction with students and families.
  • Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
  • Served as administrative lead for the RTI Team and PBIS Committee.
  • Administered standardized tests to evaluate student performance and progress.
  • Oversaw administrative functions such as schedule management and protocols for compliance efforts for fire and other safety regulations.
  • Supported human resources operations including interviewing, hiring, training, and supervising school employees.
  • Communicated policies and procedures to students and parents regarding student behavior, monitored student behavior, and enforced discipline policies.
  • Provided professional development to faculty in support of school and district initiatives including HELP Communication Strategies and Helper Initiated Contacts, Morning Meetings, Student Data Notebooks, Data Analysis and Planning, and Differentiated Instruction.

Assistant Principal

Ridgeland Elementary School
07.2013 - 06.2016
  • Provided leadership in establishing and maintaining a positive school-wide climate through regular positive interactions with stakeholders.
  • Provided professional development to faculty in support of school and district initiatives including RTI, Explicit Direct Instruction, and Common Core Standards
  • Served as administrative lead for the Student Intervention Team Committee and School Safety Team Committee.
  • Co-facilitated staff meetings, student assemblies, and parenting events.
  • Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
  • Managed resources by purchasing textbooks and tracking distribution of materials.
  • Assisted in interviewing and hiring qualified and effective teachers.

Instructional Resource Teacher/Academic Coach

Dunston Primary School
08.2009 - 06.2013
  • Partnered with Principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment resulting in Dunston Primary being recognized as a National Title I Distinguished School.
  • Served on School Leadership Team, CORE Team, PBIS Team, Literacy Team, and Technology/Curriculum Committee.
  • Facilitated weekly Teacher Curriculum Team meetings for grades CD-3.
  • Analyzed data from a variety of sources including DIBELS, MAP, Charleston County School District benchmark tests and common assessments, DOMINIE, and AIMSweb to set goals and make instructional recommendations for individual students, classes, and grade levels.
  • Provided professional development to faculty in support of school and district initiatives including Balanced Literacy, Mastery Teaching Model, Explicit Direct Instruction, Literacy Workstations, and the K-2 Literacy Guide.

Kindergarten Teacher

Midland Park Elementary School
08.2008 - 06.2009
  • Planned, organized, and implemented classroom instructional programs including Everyday Math, Inquiry-Based Science, and Building Blocks Balanced Literacy to facilitate academic, intellectual and social development.
  • Observed and assessed student performance and charted progress using DIBELS, DRA, and SuccessMaker.
  • Led professional development for Charleston School District Employees in the areas of Literacy (Literacy Centers in the Kindergarten Classroom and Integrating Literacy Throughout Classroom Centers), Instructional Technology (SMART Boards), and Science (FOSS Kit Training).

Teacher For Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Students

Charleston County School District
08.1994 - 06.2008
  • Provided direct instruction and support services to Deaf/hard of hearing students in grades preschool-twelve through self-contained, inclusion, and itinerant service models.

Preschool Teacher

PUSH Early Childhood Development Center
08.1992 - 06.1994
  • Served as lead teacher for three- and four-year-old program for children with and without special needs.

Education

Master of Education - Elementary School Administration

The Citadel
Charleston, SC
05.2009

Hearing Impaired Certification, Grades K-12 - Deaf Education

Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY
05.1994

Master of Arts - Elementary Education

University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
05.1992

Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education

Kentucky Wesleyan College
Owensboro, KY
05.1990

Skills

  • Educational Leadership
  • Staff development/Professional learning
  • Teacher Evaluation
  • Special Education/Deaf Education Specialist
  • Sign Language Interpreting: EIPA 37
  • Data analysis
  • Differentiated lesson plans and instruction
  • Student progress monitoring and reporting
  • Classroom management
  • Conflict resolution techniques
  • Relationship building and networking
  • Positive learning environment/PBIS
  • Verbal, written, and signed communication
  • Response-to-intervention
  • Instructional Technology

Certification

Georgia Professional Standards Commission:

  • Educational Leadership - Tier 1
  • Elementary Education (P-5)
  • Sp Ed Deaf Ed (P-12) Consultative
  • Sp Ed Language Arts Cognitive Level (P-5)
  • Sp Ed Math Cognitive Level (P-5)
  • Sp Ed Reading Cognitive Level (P-5)
  • Sp Ed Science Cognitive Level (P-5)
  • Sp Ed Social Science Cognitive Level (P-5)
  • Educational Interpreter

South Carolina State Board of Education:

  • 01 - Elementary
  • 2D - Special Education: Hearing Impairments
  • 71 - Elementary Principal
  • 73 - Elementary Supervisor
  • 85 - Early Childhood

State of Nevada License for Educational Personnel:

  • Provisional - Early Childhood 0-2G
  • Provisional - Elementary K-8
  • Provisional - Special Education (Hearing Impaired)
  • Provisional - Special (School Administrator)

Nevada Interpreter/CART Registry:

  • Educational Intermediate E00211
  • Community Apprentice C-00327

References

Suzanne Anthony, Special Education Administrator

Washoe County School District

Office of School Leadership

SAnthony@washoeschools.net

775-333-3711


Lindsay Hinnant, Division Director

ProCare Therapy

lindsay.hinnant@procaretherapy.com

678-459-1146


Robert Candillo, Principal

New Providence Elementary School

rcandillo@lexington1.net

803-821-3300


Antonio Ingram, Director

Baldwin Success Academy

antonio.ingram@baldwin.k12.ga.us

478-223-9010

Timeline

Sign Language Interpreter

ProCare Therapy
08.2021 - 06.2024

Teacher for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students

ProCare Therapy
09.2020 - 04.2021

Special Education Teacher

The Stepping Stones Group
09.2019 - 05.2020

Assistant Principal

Midway Hills Academy
07.2016 - 06.2019

Assistant Principal

Ridgeland Elementary School
07.2013 - 06.2016

Instructional Resource Teacher/Academic Coach

Dunston Primary School
08.2009 - 06.2013

Kindergarten Teacher

Midland Park Elementary School
08.2008 - 06.2009

Teacher For Deaf/Hard Of Hearing Students

Charleston County School District
08.1994 - 06.2008

Preschool Teacher

PUSH Early Childhood Development Center
08.1992 - 06.1994

Master of Education - Elementary School Administration

The Citadel

Hearing Impaired Certification, Grades K-12 - Deaf Education

Eastern Kentucky University

Master of Arts - Elementary Education

University of Kentucky

Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education

Kentucky Wesleyan College

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CYNTHIA S. LEAL