Dierdre Wells

Experienced educator and coach with over 15 years of expertise in mathematics instruction, looking to transition to a project management or detail-oriented role. Proficient in classroom management, curriculum development, and student behavior support. Skilled at working collaboratively with fellow educators, administrators, and support staff to tailor education to the unique needs of students. Dedicated to fostering critical thinking skills to drive improved student outcomes, I am passionate about and have succeeded in bridging achievement gaps and have implemented instructional strategies that resulted in substantial academic growth for my students, particularly on standardized tests. I am an experienced educator and management professional eager to utilize my skills and knowledge to contribute to your organization's success by fostering business growth and profitability.

MTTC Certification - Secondary Mathematics

PMP Pending

Diversity Training

A+ Certification

CNA - Certified Novell Administrator

Academic Games Coach

Algebraic Thinking Certified Trainer and Coach

Curriculum and Grant Writer

• Developed rigorous curriculum and lesson plans for grades 6-8, which incorporated practice standardized test questions while adhering to Maryland state content assessment guidelines
• Authored and edited a significant portion of both the Skillman Foundation and Comer grants, leading to successful awards for the school

Educational Trainer

Facilitated intensive 5-day training sessions for educators new to the Algebraic Thinking methodology, instructing them on fundamental concepts and demonstrating effective utilization of diverse manipulatives and techniques for teaching mathematics, including fractions, equations, and more.

Academic Games Coach

Guided one of my teams to place in the top 20% in the prestigious Equations Adventurous tournament, an advanced level competition. This achievement was especially remarkable as I was a new Academic Games coach, and my school had been without an Academic Games team for 11 years. Additionally, the other school had never fielded a team before. Notably, this competition featured participation from numerous teams and schools.

Law Day Essay Contest

Partnered with students to participate in the statewide Law Day Essay contest, supported by the State Bar of Michigan. Notably, two of my students achieved victory, with one of them clinching the top spot in two consecutive years (2003 and 2004). Out of more than 1,200 statewide entries, only 9 winners were selected, covering first, second, and third place in grades 6-8. This accomplishment held particular significance as I was the sole teacher who did not specialize in Language Arts or Social Studies. Additionally, it marked the first time in the contest's over 30-year history that an African American student emerged as a winner.

https://www.michbar.org/programs/lawday/essay_winners03#7_3rd_wallace

https://www.michbar.org/file/programs/lawday/Seventh_third.pdf

Mock Trial Program

Collaborated with Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Daphne Means Curtis to introduce the mock trial program into the 7th-grade social studies curriculum. Over several weeks, students diligently prepared and portrayed roles from a real court case, culminating in a compelling reenactment of the case for the entire school community.

Grandparent's Day Celebration

Collaboratively established an annual celebration at Cadillac Middle School to pay tribute to the grandparents who played a crucial role in raising many of our students. The event featured guest speakers addressing various topics including education, the significance of family, available job and financial assistance, and more. Additionally, the celebration included catered refreshments and the distribution of door prizes for both the grandparents and their children. This event's remarkable success was acknowledged with an honorable mention in the Detroit Public Schools newspaper.

Technical Writer

Authored and extensively edited the troubleshooting manual designed for Starband customers during my tenure at GE/Spacenet. Furthermore, I conducted training sessions for newly onboarded staff, equipping them with the skills to troubleshoot NMS and SAP procedures effectively, which involve software for documenting off-site installations and providing support to network controllers and field technicians during satellite and computer installations.

Human Resources Management

• Oversaw staff training and performance assessments, managed the creation and submission of purchase orders, and played a key role in food budget management, overseeing a team of 30 employees and diligently tracking food inventory.
• Developed and authored a highly acclaimed proposal for an associate/employee recognition program, which I presented to the General Manager, Food and Beverage Director, Executive and Sous Chefs, and fellow managers. Subsequently, the proposal was successfully implemented

Team Leadership

Served as the team lead for the Social Security Administration's most extensive Windows NT rollout in history.

Project/Event Management

• Collaboratively oversaw the management of a catered event at Mr. Marriott's private residence in Potomac, MD.
• Co-conceived and executed a highly effective career day experience for students, strategically placing them in classrooms where they could engage with speakers from their selected career paths.