Devese J. Peace-Branch

Responsibilities:

• Created rigorous lesson plans responsive to individual students needs in relation to 6th, 7th and 8th Grade content.
• Created virtual lesson plans, labs and activities in response to emerging distance learning environment.
• Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
• Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
• Assisted in creating safe and nurturing classroom environments that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
• Mentored new teachers, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
• Developed strong relationships with students, parents and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering supportive learning environments.
• Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
• Developed lessons that enable students with disabilities to achieve mastery of Science 8 content.
• Trained colleagues in JASON Lesson application and labs after attending training and JASON National Conference.
• Tutored students in middle school science concepts.
• Presented workshops for 8th Grade science teachers as Lead 8th Grade Science Teacher for PPS District.
• Presented JASON Learning World of Waves workshop at 2018 STREAM Conference for PPS District.
• Facilitated JASON Station at PPS STEM Day.
• Facilitated LEGO Station at PPS STEM Day.
• Served as JASON Teacher Argonaut, San Francisco, CA.
• Led Science Summer Camp Project GUTS Summer 2018, PPS.
• Voted to serve on Superintendent's Advisory Council 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.
• Served as Curriculum Writer for Middle School Science for Portsmouth Public Schools 2019-2022.
• Served as Department Chair 2019-Present.
• Voted Middle School Teacher of the Year, Portsmouth Public Schools 2019-2020.
• Panelist Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott's Virtual Roundtable on Reopening Schools with 3rd District Educators.
• Panelist JASON National Conference-Argonaut Session and Classroom Implementation Session, Leesburg, VA
• Panelist JASON/AASA Webinar: Equity Matters.
• Awarded position on Textbook Adoption Committee 2020-2021.
• Awarded position as a JASON National Trainer 2020.
• Appointed by Old Dominion University PROGRAM as District trainer in Computer Science as CodeVA Middle School Coach.
• Appointed by Old Dominion University PROGRAM as District trainer in Python coding.
• Completed Tier 1 training in social culture, academic and behavioral management through Virginia Tiered Systems of Support Program.
• Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
• Trained educators in JASON Early Childhood and Elementary STEM at Park Elementary, East Baton Rouge, LA June 5-15, 2022
• Panelist (Impact of Consistent Leadership in STEM) and Presenter (Restructuring a Program with Innovative STEM Curricula Focus), JASON-LSU Conference, Baton Rouge, LA Nov 2022
• Facilitated workshop for Naval Information Warfare Center - ATLANTIC Girls Day Out STEM Academy 2021 (virtual) and 2023 ( in person).
• Trained educators in Early Childhood and Elementary STEM, JASON Regional Conference, Sarahsville, OH 2022 and Marietta, OH 2023
• Facilitated professional development for CHMS Instructional Leadership Team on Effective PLC Meeting Practices and How to Use Data to Drive Instruction. 2023

• Improved reading skills of struggling readers.
• Improved writing skills of struggling students.
• Taught letter-naming.
• Taught phoneme segmentation.
• Taught comprehension strategies.