Debbie Benton
Makawao
Summary
Dynamic educator with proven skills developed over 25 years of education experience in both public and private schools. Co-founded ROOTS School Maui, showcasing exceptional leadership and relationship-building abilities. Specializes in integrating Spanish and art into comprehensive lesson plans, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.
Natural teacher skilled at boosting student social development, physical abilities and academic love for learning with strategic initiatives and hands on learning opportunities. Collaborated with teaching staff to devise comprehensive learning strategies. Life long learner dedicated to helping all students excel inside and outside the classroom. Community Leader, philanthropist and volunteer dedicated to the betterment of Maui County actively running the organization "100+Women Who Care Maui."
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Kindergarten Teacher
Carden Academy of Maui
08.2022 - Current
- Built positive relationships with students and families for safe, trusted learning support.
- Enhanced classroom management by establishing clear expectations, rules, and routines.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve challenges faced.
- Implemented differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.
- Attended Carden Academy training for reading/writing methodology.
- Trained and volunteered under former Carden Kindergarten teacher to learn Carden Academy of Maui's "Morning Paper" phonics/language arts program.
Kindergarten Math and Science Teacher
Carden Academy of Maui
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Developed engaging lesson plans to facilitate student understanding of scientific principles.
- Encouraged student participation and curiosity by creating interactive learning experiences including experiments and creative projects for improving student comprehension.
- Collaborated with colleagues to integrate cross-disciplinary approaches into science and math curriculum for comprehensive education.
Student Teacher, Kindergarten And Third Grade
Ashland, Oregon School District
08.2000 - 06.2021
- Developed lesson plans that incorporated mandated topics and included immersive activities for student engagement.
- Reviewed faculty handbooks, regional curricula and student guides to formulate deep understanding of duties and student expectations.
- Pursued every opportunity to grow abilities and take on increasing responsibility.
- Conferred with qualified teacher to establish instructional targets and prepare lessons to cover source topics.
- Investigated different teaching materials and techniques to understand strengths and weaknesses.
- Supported students outside of classroom environments by contributing to assemblies, athletic events and special performances.
- Assisted lead teacher in planning and preparing lesson plans to enhance student engagement.
Lead Teacher & Co Founder
ROOTS School Maui
08.2007 - 06.2019
- Started a not for profit alternative education private school on the North Shore of Maui from the ground up. This in itself is one of my greatest accomplishments and took an indescribable amount of dedication, love and hard work.
- Facilitated in overall school operations and organization from ordering materials, curating curriculum, obtaining non profit status, obtaining health insurance for employees, managing employees including hiring and firing, admissions process, maintaining social media platforms and website, office management, database management to constant communication with families.
- Conferred with parents about student progress to boost family involvement and enhance student support.
- Planned and implemented different daily activities to enhance overall development and growth of every student.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Enhanced student learning by optimizing wide range of instructional approaches and innovative classroom activities.
- Assisted students of all ability levels develop life-long learning skills. Developed and deepened relationships with students, family members and faculty to promote optimal student learning environments.
- Planned and prepared activities for K-1-2-3 students in alignment with current state and national standards.
- Successfully launched a capital campaign to fundraise for school facility and grounds purchase.
- Served on the School Board for 7 years.
Kindergarten Teacher
Ashland, Oregon School District
08.2001 - 07.2007
- Cultivated language skills through use of traditional poems, nursery rhymes and riddles to help students develop comprehension, vocabulary and love of language.
- Encouraged and prepared students to become independent readers through systematic, multi-sensory instruction in phonemic awareness and decoding skills.
- Arranged parent-teacher conferences to address student progress and collaboratively set goals for areas of improvement.
- Delivered structured lessons on readiness skills by emphasizing phonics, language skills, literature, mathematics, science, social emotional skills, Spanish language, geography and more.
- Integrated outdoor education into lesson plans.
Education
MBA - Elementary Education
Southern Oregon University
Ashland01-2021
Bachelor of Arts - Art, English, Foreign Language
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR01-1998
Skills
- Leadership ability
- Relationship building
- Inventory organization school wide
- Inspections and reviews
- Lesson planning
- Differentiated instruction
- Classroom management
- Program development and management
- Curriculum selection
- Activity planning
- Child development
- Behavioral improvements
- Student records management
- Friendly personality
- Time management
- Team collaboration
- Problem-solving skills
- Organizational skills
- Spanish integration
- Art History & Art integration
- Yoga & PE classes integration
Timeline
Kindergarten Teacher
Carden Academy of Maui
08.2022 - Current
Kindergarten Math and Science Teacher
Carden Academy of Maui
08.2020 - 06.2021
Lead Teacher & Co Founder
ROOTS School Maui
08.2007 - 06.2019
Kindergarten Teacher
Ashland, Oregon School District
08.2001 - 07.2007
Student Teacher, Kindergarten And Third Grade
Ashland, Oregon School District
08.2000 - 06.2021
MBA - Elementary Education
Southern Oregon University
Bachelor of Arts - Art, English, Foreign Language
Southern Oregon University
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