Diane Dolan
Garden City,NY
Summary
Dedicated Lead Teacher with 15 years experience in teaching Advanced Placement Literature and Advanced Placement Language and Composition/Rhetoric. Designer of high-quality lesson plans designed to engage students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, experienced curriculum writer, literary conference presenter, engaged in publication process of literary criticism. Strengths include ability to create inclusive learning environments, implement innovative teaching strategies, and foster positive relationships with students and parents. Previous roles have seen significant improvement in classroom performance, AP exam scores, Regents Exam scores, and overall student satisfaction. Teaching philosophy founded upon cura personalis, i.e. teaching the whole person with care; fostering academic curiosity and independence.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Teacher, English Department
Garden City High School
Garden City, NY
07.2024 - 06.2025
- Acted as liaison between Garden City High School English program and Central Administration, GC Public Schools.
- Supervised scope and sequence of curricula and benchmark assessments for grade levels 9-12.
- Communicated bi-monthly departmental updates to District Literacy Director; formulated and executed strategies to improve parent communication and student performance
- Served as High School representative to District Literacy Committee, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- Managed NCTE nominations and submissions, as well as junior and senior Book awards selection
- Provided internal counsel to District Literacy Director on honors appeals cases between course levels
- Created and communicated strategies for student success as part of building wide Student Review Team of academically and/or socio-emotionally vulnerable students.
- Initiated departmental presentations designed to educate High School Seniors about acceptable AI use
- Served on two district hiring committees, 2023-24, and 2024-25.
- Managed and oversaw department budget
- Managed the onboarding process and mentored two new English teachers for the 2024-25 academic year.
- Served on Principal's Cabinet, 2024-25
- Prepared and maintained classroom and common area environments appropriate for student learning and socio-emotional development.
- Made digital enhancements to Writing Center for students
- Taught total of 5 AP Literature and AP Language classes per semester whilst serving as Lead Teacher
English Teacher
Garden City High School
Garden City, NY
01.2008 - 06.2024
- Taught the following English courses: Grade 9 Regents Co-Taught, 5 years; Grade 11 Regents Co-Taught, 2 years; Grade 11 Honors, 1 year; Grade 12 Speech and Exposition, 1 year; 11 AP English Language and Composition, 14 years; 12 AP English Literature, 13 years.
- Designed clear, creative lessons to foster students' intellectual curiosity, engagement, investment in learning; designed lessons to augment and hone reading, writing, and critical thinking skills while building confidence and independence
- Cultivated a classroom atmosphere rooted in academic rigor, mutual respect, collaboration, and personal and social accountability.
- Consistently modeled and reinforced the introduction of new critical reading and writing skills
- Adhered to College Board guidelines, expectations, and rubrics as necessary
- Rewrote the Grade 9 Regents and Grade 9 Honors curriculum for 2010-11; curriculum still in place.
- Differentiated instruction among diverse learners while following IEP requirements
- Revamped the 11AP English Language curriculum, including syllabus and assessment, summer 2012; also still in place across multiple sections.
- Wrote a new 12 AP Literature syllabus framed in literary archetypes and theory starting in 2014; made annual necessary adjustments based on student needs and class composition.
English Teacher
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
Sudbury, Massachusetts
09.1994 - 06.1996
- Taught grades 9 and 10 in highly-ranked Metro West Boston regional high school serving towns of Lincoln and Sudbury, MA
Editor, School Reading
Houghton Mifflin Company
Boston, MA
09.1991 - 08.1994
- Collaborated with teachers to ensure textbook content met Massachusetts state reading standards and engaged students
- Read, evaluated, and edited content submitted for publication.
- Reviewed copyedited texts to ensure accuracy and consistency of style.
Education
Master of Arts - Secondary English Education
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA05-1994
Master of Arts - English And American Literature
New York University
New York, NY01-1992
Bachelor of Arts - Comparative Government
Georgetown University
Washington, DC05-1990
Skills
- Inclusive teaching
- Literary analysis
- Student mentoring
- Conference presentations
- Course design
- Writing workshops
- Educational technology
- Teaching composition
- In-person and online teaching
- Publication experience
Languages
German
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Limited
Accomplishments
- Selected to present original thesis at Cormac McCarthy Society Annual Conference, Knoxville, TN October 2024
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Lead Teacher, English Department
Garden City High School
07.2024 - 06.2025
English Teacher
Garden City High School
01.2008 - 06.2024
English Teacher
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
09.1994 - 06.1996
Editor, School Reading
Houghton Mifflin Company
09.1991 - 08.1994
Master of Arts - Secondary English Education
Boston College
Master of Arts - English And American Literature
New York University
Bachelor of Arts - Comparative Government
Georgetown University
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