Denasia M Gaines
Summary
A compassionate and creative educator, bringing extensive experience in classroom management, professional development, and project planning. Skilled in diverse educational settings and subjects, adept at creating warm, safe learning environments tailored to individual student needs. A proven track record as a student-centric instructor, academic facilitator, and motivational coach. Organized, dependable, and capable of managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude, always ready to take on additional responsibilities to achieve team goals.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Teacher
KIPP SoCal
01.2024 - Current
- Increased overall class participation by fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment.
- Served as a liaison between students, parents, faculty, and administration to facilitate communication and resolve conflicts.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
Teachstart Fellow
Scoot Education
07.2023 - 01.2024
- Provided instruction for students in core subject areas.
- Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Incorporated technology into learning to enhance student engagement and learning.
- Developed creative instructional strategies to keep students engaged and motivated.
Academic Coach
High Tech Middle Chula Vista
10.2022 - 07.2023
- Collaborated with teachers and administrators to discuss academic needs of students.
- Motivated students towards learning and studying to build self-confidence and reduce fear of failure.
- Provided early intervention assistance to struggling students.
- Supported student learning objectives through personalized and small group assistance.
Patient Access Service Representative
Sharp Healthcare
08.2020 - 06.2022
- Utilized knowledge of electronic medical record systems and medical terminology to perform diverse data entry tasks.
- Determined patient financial needs and referred eligible patients to proper county, state or federal agencies to obtain financial assistance.
- Contributed to reduction of accounts receivables by adhering to predetermined policies and procedures to recover amounts due from patients.
- Secured patient information and confidential medical records in compliance with HIPAA privacy rule standards to protect patient's privacy.
Student Success Leader
UC San Diego Black Resource Center
09.2016 - 06.2018
- Conducted academic advisement services for students on reoccurring basis to maintain educational progression and retention.
- Maintained student database and electronic records for each student contact.
- Managed authentic mentorship program that built relationships with first year students and the greater UC San Diego community to develop range of skills including organization and conflict management.
College Peer Advisor
Wahupa Upward Bound, Lincoln High School
09.2015 - 09.2019
- Strengthened residential community by coordinating social and educational events each semester.
- Worked with individuals to help understand and overcome personal, social or behavioral problems affecting educational or vocational situations.
- Identified cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encouraged students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
- Developed Functional Behavioral Assessment and Positive Behavioral Intervention Plan to identify cause of problem behavior, formulate strategies to address behavior and teach new behavioral skills for students.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams of parents, teachers and administrators to create and implement Individualized Education Plans.
Chairman of Board
UC San Diego Black Student Union
04.2017 - 06.2018
- Directed and overseen 10 executive board members and yearly budget of over $40,000.
- Provided recommendations to executive board of directors on group's effectiveness, actions and future plans.
- Contributed to values, goals and strategic vision of organization that lead to increase community awareness and involvement.
- Developed strategies to promote diversity in faculty and staff hiring on campus and actively participated in building strong networks and recruitment sources with Vice Chancellor of Equity Diversity and Inclusion.
- Provided guidance on policies and procedures to harmonize responses, provide appropriate investigation actions and reach resolution of student grievances in relation to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Developed cross-initiative diversity plans that enhanced community engagement and efficiency in yearly programming .
Associate Vice President of External Affairs
UC San Diego Associated Students
05.2017 - 09.2018
- Coordinated site leadership teams by interacting effectively and establishing communication best practices within greater San Diego.
- Evaluated existing operations and current communal relations to identify necessary improvements and capitalize on changes.
- Developed strategies to promote diversity in inaugural high school shadow days and campus visits.
- Reviewed operating budgets periodically to analyze trends affecting budget needs of historically underrepresented communities to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion programming needs were met on campus.
- Sat on Campus Police Advisory Board, Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Black Alumni Involvement Committee, and Associated Students Executive Board.
Night Auditor
Crown Plaza Hotel and Resort
06.2019 - 09.2019
- Organized budget documentation and tracked expenses to maintain tight business controls.
- Applied proper codes to invoices, files and receipts to keep records organized and easily searchable.
- Handled all duties and tasks for night manager and concierge during busy periods to maintain front desk efficiency.
- Assessed data and information to verify entry, calculation and billing code accuracy.
- Collaborated with team members to handle guest requirements from check-in through check-out.
Education
Doctor of Education - Organizational Leadership
Northcentral University
San Diego, CA06.2025
Master of Arts - Education
National University
La Jolla, CA02.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Ethnic Studies, African American Studies
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA06.2021
High School Diploma -
Abraham Lincoln High School
San Diego, CA06.2015
Areas of Expertise
Professional Skills
Strategic Planning | Written and Conversational Spanish | Leadership | Relationship Building | Data-Driven Decision Making | Creative Problem Solving | Program Management |Organization |Resource Prioritization | Crisis Intervention | Case Management
Technical Skills
Microsoft Office Software | Google Workspace | Infinite Campus | Powerschool
Timeline
Teacher
KIPP SoCal
01.2024 - Current
Teachstart Fellow
Scoot Education
07.2023 - 01.2024
Academic Coach
High Tech Middle Chula Vista
10.2022 - 07.2023
Patient Access Service Representative
Sharp Healthcare
08.2020 - 06.2022
Night Auditor
Crown Plaza Hotel and Resort
06.2019 - 09.2019
Associate Vice President of External Affairs
UC San Diego Associated Students
05.2017 - 09.2018
Chairman of Board
UC San Diego Black Student Union
04.2017 - 06.2018
Student Success Leader
UC San Diego Black Resource Center
09.2016 - 06.2018
College Peer Advisor
Wahupa Upward Bound, Lincoln High School
09.2015 - 09.2019
Doctor of Education - Organizational Leadership
Northcentral University
Master of Arts - Education
National University
Bachelor of Arts - Ethnic Studies, African American Studies
University of California, San Diego
High School Diploma -
Abraham Lincoln High School
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