DEBBIE E. BENNETT
IOWA CITY,IA
Summary
Experienced with educational leadership, emphasizing development of high-performing academic environments. Utilizes strategic planning and team management to drive school improvement and student success. Knowledge of curriculum development and staff mentorship, ensuring comprehensive educational experiences.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Principal
Iowa City Community School District
01.2024 - Current
- Provides instruction, culture, climate, and community leadership under the guidelines of our Social Emotional Behavioral Health (SEBH) and Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) in academics and behavior
- Monitors school performance on district and statewide assessments
- Responsible for Entrepreneur Studies in order to create pathways
- Represents the school as a Local Educational Agency (LEA) in all special education processes and programming
- Promotes, supports, engages, and collaborates with students and families for support
- Demonstrates ethical and positive behavior to inspire staff and students to perform better
- Collaborates with service providers outside of the school setting to get the desired outcome for students and families
Principal
Iowa City Community School District
06.2020 - 01.2024
- Promotes school mission and vision in conjunction with the school's CSIP
- Monitors school performance on district and statewide assessments
- Represents the school as a Local Educational Agency (LEA) in all special education processes and programming
- Provides instruction, culture, climate, and community leadership under the guidelines of our Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) in academics and behavior
- Manages day-to-day building operations, including recruitment, hiring, and instructional time management
- Promotes, supports, engages, and collaborates with students and families for support
- Demonstrates ethical and positive behavior to inspire staff and students to perform better
- Collaborates with service providers outside of the school setting to get the desired outcome for students and families
Assistant Principal
Iowa City Community School District
06.2018 - 06.2020
- Promoted school missions and visions in conjunction with each school's CSIP
- Provided instruction, culture, climate, and community leadership under our Multi-Tier Systems of Support guidelines in academics and behavior and managed day-to-day building operations, including recruitment, hiring, and management of instructional time
- Promotes, supports, engages, and collaborates with students and families for support
- Demonstrates ethical and positive behavior to inspire staff and students to perform better
- Collaborates with service providers outside of the school setting to get the desired outcome for students and families
Teacher
Iowa City Community School District
08.2016 - 05.2018
- Developed course plans to meet students' academic, intellectual, and social needs
- Developed and implemented engaging and interactive learning mediums to increase student understanding of course materials
- Routinely met with students' parents regarding in-class issues and learning interruptions to discuss solutions
- Established and enforced rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among a class of 20+ students
- Created and enforced child-based hands-on curriculum to promote student interest and receptive learning
- Implemented student discipline measures, decreasing classroom disruptions by 80%
MS Math Teacher/ Math Instructional Coach
American Quality Schools
01.2014 - 08.2016
- Established and enforced rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among a student population of more than 50
- Developed course plans to meet students' academic, intellectual, and social needs
- Developed and implemented engaging and interactive learning mediums to increase student understanding of course materials
- Observed and assessed student performance and kept thorough records of progress
- Taught after-school and summer enrichment programs
- Scheduled and held parent-teacher conferences to keep parents up-to-date on student's academic performance
- Collaborated with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning and student engagement
RTI Specialists/Early Childhood Teacher
Chicago Public Schools
08.2013 - 01.2014
- Created and implemented a developmentally appropriate curriculum that addressed all learning styles
- Distributed quarterly educational assessments, similar to report cards, to each parent
- Encouraged children to be understanding of others
- Developed professional relationships with parents, teachers, directors, and therapists
- Worked closely with the site director, family care workers, classroom teaching team, and other specialists
English Teacher
University of Chicago
06.2013 - 08.2013
- Developed and implemented engaging and interactive learning mediums to increase student understanding of course materials using the Hunger Games series
- Developed interesting course plans to meet academic, intellectual, and social needs of students
- Created and enforced child-based hands-on curriculum to promote student interest and receptive learning
MS Math Teacher/Math Department Chair
Larry Hawkins CICS
08.2012 - 08.2013
- Applied progressive teaching principles to a class of 75 students, improving standardized test scores by more than 25% in nine months with 214% growth
- Conducted small group and individual classroom activities based on differentiated learning needs
- Encouraged discussion of class material to promote critical thinking
- Implemented remedial programs for students requiring extra help
- Communicated effectively with educators from various grade levels in math education
- Initiated and implemented Math Nights Pi Day and after-school parent tutoring program to encourage student participation
- Observed students to supply teachers with feedback regarding potential learning blocks and opportunities for support
- Conducted analysis to address the achievement gap, which led to a 5-10% increase in 7th-12th grade math standardized tests
Home school Teacher
08.2010 - 05.2011
- Supplied one-on-one attention to a student with special needs
- Implemented a variety of teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations
- Encouraged the student to persevere with challenging tasks
- Promoted language development skills through reading and storytelling
- Applied the positive reinforcement method to redirect negative behaviors
- Conducted individual activities based on differentiated learning needs
- Organized field trips to local parks, museums and zoos
Teacher/ Curriculum Development
University of Illinois UIC
06.2009 - 08.2010
- Prepared science-integrated curriculum for kindergarten-2nd grade
- Physically and verbally interacted with students throughout the day to keep them engaged
- Communicated effectively with educators from various grade levels
- Supported students in developing individual needs and classroom group dynamics strategies and implemented a science fair program to encourage student participation
MS Science Teacher
Archdiocese of Chicago
08.2002 - 06.2010
- Taught Science in 5th-8th grades in addition to reading and writing
- Created and enforced child-based hands-on curriculum to promote student interest and receptive learning
- Developed interesting course plans to meet the academic, intellectual, and social needs of students
- Performed student background reviews to develop tailored lessons based on students' needs
Education
Doctor of Education- Ed.D - Educational Administration
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN01-2026
Education Administration And Supervision -
National Louis University
Chicago, IL09-2017
Master of Arts - Teaching
Concordia University
River Forest, IL06-2012
Master of Arts - Curriculum And Instruction
Concordia University
River Forest, IL12-2011
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL08-2001
Skills
- Data-driven decision making
- Operations management
- Team collaboration
- Multitasking
- Relationship building and networking
- Instructional leadership
- Entrepreneurial personality
- Community engagement
- Staff management
- Goal planning
- Curriculum development
Accomplishments
- Overhauled Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) and better educated all personnel and students, resulting in a 25% decrease in identified students for Special Education services at Garner Elementary (2020- 2024)
- Spearheaded the implementation of the Garner Elementary improvement plan, which redefined performance goals and removed state designation (2022).
- Endowed $17,000 in grant funds from ICCSD Foundation through an approved proposal for an Entrepreneurial Project and updated technology for Northwest Middle School (2024).
- Published article in the May/June issue of Principal magazine through the National Association of Elementary School Principals (2025)
Affiliations
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- National Association of Black Educators
Certification
- Principal Certification - Illinois Department of Education.
- Professional Administrator License (PAL) - Iowa Department of Education.
Timeline
Associate Principal
Iowa City Community School District
01.2024 - Current
Principal
Iowa City Community School District
06.2020 - 01.2024
Assistant Principal
Iowa City Community School District
06.2018 - 06.2020
Teacher
Iowa City Community School District
08.2016 - 05.2018
MS Math Teacher/ Math Instructional Coach
American Quality Schools
01.2014 - 08.2016
RTI Specialists/Early Childhood Teacher
Chicago Public Schools
08.2013 - 01.2014
English Teacher
University of Chicago
06.2013 - 08.2013
MS Math Teacher/Math Department Chair
Larry Hawkins CICS
08.2012 - 08.2013
Home school Teacher
08.2010 - 05.2011
Teacher/ Curriculum Development
University of Illinois UIC
06.2009 - 08.2010
MS Science Teacher
Archdiocese of Chicago
08.2002 - 06.2010
Doctor of Education- Ed.D - Educational Administration
Walden University
Education Administration And Supervision -
National Louis University
Master of Arts - Teaching
Concordia University
Master of Arts - Curriculum And Instruction
Concordia University
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
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