Debbie Satterfield
Atlanta,GA
Summary
I aim to support teachers in enhancing instructional practices that equip students for future jobs and careers that have yet to emerge. Drawing on my professional experience, I seek to assist teachers in developing curricula, providing professional learning, and promoting skills and mindsets essential for navigating an ever-evolving job market. Together, we can ensure that students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal/ Assistant Principal
DeKalb County School District
01.2015 - Current
- Established and communicated the school's mission and vision and its alignment with the District's broader mission to support and enhance high-level student learning
- Successfully managed and directed K-8 schools of 1200+ students
- Worked collaboratively with teachers and staff to fulfill the requirements for successfully reauthorizing the International Baccalaureate program at Midvale and Tucker Middle Schools
- Increased teacher effectiveness through classroom observations, continuous teacher feedback, data meetings and creating professional learning sessions resulting in positive student growth
- Collaborated with teachers and staff to cultivate a culture of data analysis to drive instructional decisions, including individual and grade-level data meetings, resulting in Fernbank's highest CCRPI score (95.6) to date
- This approach also resulted in outstanding achievement: Midvale Elementary School received its highest CCRPI score, a significant increase from 63.3 to 80
- Established a supportive environment that encouraged teachers to continue their professional development
- Implemented tailored professional development workshops to help teachers enhance their teaching abilities, ultimately leading to schools under my leadership achieving the Title I Distinguished School, Silver, and Bronze Awards for the highest percentage of students who met and exceeded standards
- Oversaw the collaborative effort with staff to create a comprehensive master school schedule that maximized instructional time
- This schedule included targeted safety nets to help students who did not meet academic standards and social-emotional learning (SEL) activities to address students' emotional needs
- Worked to ensure instructional planning was intentional and relative to students' academic and behavioral needs
- Achieved student growth on the 2023 Georgia Milestones Assessments
- Tucker Middle School students increased by 2.37% in ELA Content Mastery and a 3.29% increase in Math Content Mastery
- Subgroups improved achievement by closing the gaps with the Black, ED, SWD, EL, and White subgroups that met improvement targets in the ELA and Math Content Areas
- Spearheaded the collaboration and planning process with 80 staff members to develop and execute a shared vision for achieving STEM accreditation
- Consequently, Midvale became the first elementary school in Georgia to obtain IB and STEM accreditations
- Supported 95 teachers and staff members through observations and evaluations to determine their teaching strategies' effectiveness and the instructional program's overall quality
- Utilized schoolwide ClassDojo as means to collect data and reinforce positive student behavior
- Implemented school-wide Morning Meetings as a tool to establish and maintain a positive learning environment throughout the school
- Customized and implemented school-wide attendance initiatives which resulted in Dresden consistently meeting attendance criteria for AYP
- Supported Tucker Middle School's Performing Arts Department and its production of the school's first annual Musical Play (two-night performances with over 200 in attendance each night)
- Implemented and monitored home/school communication within a culturally and ethnically diverse school by creating written communication in multiple languages and arranging for interpreters to be present during parent-teacher conferences and other Dresden, McLendon and Jolly Elementary school-wide events
- Partnered with the Tucker Government, Civic Association, and local businesses to increase community outreach by 20%
- The partnerships supported Midvale Elementary's Beautification Day events, landscaping opportunities, and classroom extension activities
- Conferred with elementary feeder principals through organized visits and meetings, addressing relevant topics that resulted in implementing a middle school transition (Tiger Camp) experience for rising sixth-grade students
- Fostered parental involvement and enhanced home-school relationships by implementing an organized series of monthly meetings (Principal's Coffee and Conversation) at Dresden Elementary, Fernbank Elementary, Midvale Elementary, and Tucker Middle School
- Served as a Counselor Supervisor – supervised practicum counseling for University of West Georgia College graduate students.
Principal
Wesley International Academy
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Successfully managed and directed K-8 schools of 800+ students
- Established and facilitated highly structured communicative and collaborative grade-level weekly planning meetings to deconstruct standards and identify learning targets
- Increased the number of gifted-endorsed homeroom teachers from 2% to 63% in three years by creating and supporting teachers participating in a cohort to complete requirements for the state of Georgia's approved Gifted In-Field Endorsement certification program
- Created Master Schedule to supported organized and structured data talks designed to address student learning gaps and drive PLCs
- Utilized student data to tailor targeted Math safety nets to support students not meeting academic standards
- Worked collaboratively with teachers and staff to fulfill the requirements for successfully reauthorizing the International Baccalaureate program
- Implemented school-wide Morning Meetings as a tool to establish and maintain a positive learning environment throughout the school
- Created weekly staff email newsletter.
Counselor
DeKalb County School District
01.1998 - 01.2006
- Worked cooperatively with teachers, parents, and students
- Assisted in maintaining a positive school climate and positive school morale
- Customized and implemented school-wide attendance initiatives which resulted in Dresden consistently meeting attendance criteria for AYP
- Contributed to the increase in parent involvement by establishing and facilitating monthly parent meetings
- Successfully created and conducted presentations for monthly parent meetings and professional learning opportunities for staff
- Counselor Supervisor – supervisor for University of West Georgia Students, fulfilling requirements for practicum credits.
Special Education Teacher
DeKalb County School District
01.1988 - 01.1998
- Delivered individualized instruction in all areas of the curriculum for special needs students in grades kindergarten through grade seventh
- Coordinated school-wide monthly student recognition program
- Assisted with duties and responsibilities of the Student Support Team
- Collaborated with peers to coordinate environmental education field trips for students in grades fifth through seventh.
Education
Doctor of Education, EdD -
University of Georgia
05.2020
Educational Specialist, Educational Leadership, Ed.S. -
Lincoln Memorial University
12.2007
Master of Education in Special Education, M.A. -
Clark Atlanta University
12.2007
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, B.A. -
Clark College
05.1978
Skills
- Passionate and dedicated professional committed to student success A results-driven leader with a demonstrated history of successfully collaborating with teams of educators Proven ability to initiate and implement processes that effectively address the diverse learning needs of all students
Websites
Certification
- SP ED General Curriculum (P-12)
- SP ED Learning Disabilities (P-12)
- SP ED Social Science Cognitive Level (P-5, 4-8)
- School Counseling (P-12)
- Data Wise Certificate – Harvard Graduate School- Harvard University
- Certificate in School Management and Leadership – Harvard Business School- Harvard University
Presentations Training Facilitator
- PARENTING
- Homework With No Tears
- How To Conduct an Effective Teacher/Parent Conference
- Reading Standardized Test Scores
- INSTRUCTIONAL
- Response To Intervention
- CRCT Presentations
- Differentiation Determines the Difference
- Best Practices for Classroom Inclusion
- What Is SST?
- Racing to The Top with CCGPS and RTI
- Common Core Standards
- Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation System
- DEKALB SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESENTATIONS
- Seven Highly Effective Ways to Communicating with Stakeholders
- Effective Parenting Strategies
- Implementation of Standards-Based Grading
Awards
1992 DeKalb County Teacher of the Year
References
- Mr. Trenton Arnold, Area Superintendent, DeKalb County School District
- Mrs. Syrenthia Venessa Bines-Truitt, Executive Administrator, Elementary Schools, DeKalb County School District
- Mr. Jason Marshall, Executive Director, Wesley International Academy Charter School
Timeline
Principal
Wesley International Academy
01.2018 - 01.2022
Principal/ Assistant Principal
DeKalb County School District
01.2015 - Current
Counselor
DeKalb County School District
01.1998 - 01.2006
Special Education Teacher
DeKalb County School District
01.1988 - 01.1998
Doctor of Education, EdD -
University of Georgia
Educational Specialist, Educational Leadership, Ed.S. -
Lincoln Memorial University
Master of Education in Special Education, M.A. -
Clark Atlanta University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, B.A. -
Clark College