Deanne A. Lester
Montvale,NJ
Summary
Enthusiastic Education Leader offering more than 10-year history of supporting academic administration functions. Motivated to improve relationships among faculty, students and administrators. Personable and outgoing with skill in instructional coaching, communication, and building rapport with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
07.2024 - Current
- Educational Leader of an Elementary School of approximately 1400 students and 130 educational staff member.
- Cultivated positive relationships between community members, school students, and teachers.
- Oversaw schedule management and protocols for orientation, registration, and related activities.
- Researched and incorporated new educational trends and instructional strategies to optimize education effectiveness.
- Mentored newly hired educators and provided encouragement and feedback.
- Communicated policies and procedures to students and parents regarding student behavior.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
Instructional Leader for STEM
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
10.2022 - 07.2024
- Oversees all school building operations, policies, and procedures; managing up to 250 staff (teachers, staff, clerical, custodial, cleaning, and labor), directing various aspects of the preparing and execution of a school system.
- Developed building based strategic plan based on district initiatives and building specific student and perception data in areas of Family Engagement and Student Achievement and Engagement.
- Administered and provided continuous evaluation and instructional leadership for teachers leveraging Best Practices and New York State Next Generation Standards.
- Designed and executed Data Driven Instruction professional development on district and state data sources for the purpose of instructional improvement and curriculum alignment.
- Developed and Facilitated professional development and pilot experience with grading practices under the ‘Grading for Equity’ study.
- Facilitated curriculum writing and collaboration continuum to enhance the instructional program based on New York State Next Generation Standards.
- Coordinate all Local, State, and Regents testing.
- Collaborated with school board officials to assess areas for improvement in curricula, classrooms, testing and student activities.
- Monitored and evaluated educational programs to maintain high-quality performance objectives and standards.
- Observed teachers, documented activities and implemented improvement plans to optimize classrooms.
School Building Leader, Elementary Principal
Frontier Central School District
07.2019 - 09.2022
- Oversees all school building operations, policies, and procedures; directing various aspects of the preparing and execution of a school system.
- Developed and instituted strategic measures to increase parent participation, student engagement, and academic achievement.
- Provided professional development and training to all personnel, including Computer Based Testing (Nextera/Questar), instructional technology integration (iReady), instructional improvement strategies, data analysis and strategic planning based on student data.
- Developed, managed, and monitored school-wide schedule and coverages for staff members to ensure instructional efficiency and the safety of all stakeholders within the school building.
- Coordinate all Local, State, and Regents testing.
- Evaluated employee skills and knowledge regularly, training, and mentoring individuals with lagging skills.
Assistant Principal
Frontier Central School District
08.2015 - 07.2019
- Built productive relationships with parents of students facing difficult situations at school or at home.
- Led meetings to convey policy changes, gather information, and assess employee thoughts.
- Supported hiring, training, and disciplinary action in compliance with legal guidelines and requirements.
- Supervised and evaluated teaching and support staff through instructional leadership and professional development.
- Monitored student behavior and enforced discipline policies.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Partnered with principal to administer school program in alignment with vision and goals, providing positive, high-expectation academic environment.
Educator, Instructional Coach
Buffalo Public School District
08.2004 - 08.2015
- Developed school-wide initiatives working in collaboration with district and building leaders promoting engagement of all stakeholder groups, alignment to state level mandates on curriculum and instruction, and instructional improvement in the classrooms.
- Member of the School Based Management Team to develop building School Comprehensive Education Plan (SCEP) based on student achievement and perception data.
Education
New York Education Policy Fellowship -
Columbia University
New York, NY01.2021
Google Suite Training for Administrator -
Erie 1 BOCES
West Seneca, NY01.2020
Instructional Coaching and Staff Development Training -
Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo, NY01.2019
Masters of Science - Educational Leadership
Niagara University
Lewiston, NY01.2014
Masters of Science - Education
Niagara University
Lewiston, NY01.2008
Bachelors of Science - Education
State University of New York College At Buffalo
Buffalo, NY01.2003
Associates of Applied Science - Education
Niagara County Community College
Sanborn, NY01.2001
Skills
- School culture
- Education administration
- Relationship building and networking
- Curriculum development and oversight
- Faculty training and development
- Interpersonal strengths
- Student performance data
- Parent engagement
School Based Committees
- Facilitator, School Leadership Team, Student Support Team, MTSS
- Member, Administrative Council, Instructional Council, Safe Schools Committee
Community Service
- Member, Blasdell Elementary Parent, Teacher Association, Blasdell, New York, 2019, 2021
- Volunteer, The Teacher’s Desk, Buffalo, New York, 2020
- Volunteer, Teal’s Niagara Theatre Camp, Theatre Production “Bring it On!”, 2019
Professional Committees
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, ASCD, 2020, Present
- New York State Association for Women in Administration, NYSAWA, 2018, 2020
Certification
New York State School District Leader (SDL) Professional Certificate
New York State School Building Leader (SBL) Professional Certificate
New York State Prekindergarten, Kindergarten and Grades 1-6 Permanent Certification
New York State Mathematics 7-9 Extension Permanent Certification
Timeline
Principal
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
07.2024 - Current
Instructional Leader for STEM
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
10.2022 - 07.2024
School Building Leader, Elementary Principal
Frontier Central School District
07.2019 - 09.2022
Assistant Principal
Frontier Central School District
08.2015 - 07.2019
Educator, Instructional Coach
Buffalo Public School District
08.2004 - 08.2015
New York Education Policy Fellowship -
Columbia University
Google Suite Training for Administrator -
Erie 1 BOCES
Instructional Coaching and Staff Development Training -
Buffalo Public Schools
Masters of Science - Educational Leadership
Niagara University
Masters of Science - Education
Niagara University
Bachelors of Science - Education
State University of New York College At Buffalo
Associates of Applied Science - Education
Niagara County Community College
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