Blanca O'Connor
Summary
Insightful Instructional Specialist eager to leverage a skill for catering to varied learning modalities through innovative training tools. Well-versed in common core standards and requirements illustrated across 16years of experience in the academic landscape.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ESOL Instructional Specialist
Greenville School District
01.2019 - Current
- Developed and implemented a blended learning model for ESOL Teachers to serve multilingual learners
- Designed and developed an e-portfolio for first-year teachers to reflect on their teaching practice to meet state requirements for teacher certification
- Assisted with developing and implementing professional development workshops for faculty members at all levels of instruction including administrators, content teachers, and instructional coaches
- Provided support for curriculum development projects related to educational technology initiatives across secondary level schools as well as aiding regarding instructional design principles and practices for newcomers and students with limited interrupted education.
ESOL Teacher
Greenville School District
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Identify and assess MLs as assigned
- Provide instruction, assessment, and monitoring of MLs and their records
- Communicate with parents regarding academic progress and school programs
- Coordinate services with school personnel and staff
- Coordinate and implement professional development opportunities that provide teachers with content knowledge and best-practice instructional and assessment strategies for MLs
- Perform other duties as assigned by the building administrator and/or Director of MLP Services: Planned, organized, and provided instruction that met state and federal standards; provided consistent instruction and coordinated with the district's/school's instructional program to ensure that students met and exceeded learning targets
- Developed and delivered lesson plans that utilized a broad range of appropriate teaching techniques and strategies; addressed all aspects of communication through appropriate instruction that develops each student's ability to read, write, speak, and listen in the appropriate content area.
Gifted Intermediate Math & Science Specialist
Reedy Creek Elementary
08.1999 - 06.2016
- Implement a variety of teaching strategies (cooperative learning, Kagan model, whole group instruction, ESOL strategies) to teach the core curriculum to gifted intermediate students
- Deliver instruction on technology integration to students and parents
- Develop educational technology curriculum for delivery of classroom and online coursework
- Inspire students to integrate technology into daily classroom activities
- Restructure students' attitudes regarding the purpose and use of technology in the classroom
- Teach integrating technology in the classroom, and implementation of differentiated instruction through Marzano's Model.
Mathematics for Elementary & Secondary Education I & II
Phoenix University
09.2012 - 05.2016
- This course is a two-part series designed for K-8 pre-service teachers to address the conceptual framework for mathematics taught in K-8 schools
- Develop lessons, activities, and assessments from basic number sense through Pre-Algebra and Algebra I
- Provide timely feedback on student progress
- Work with students outside of class hours
- Develop and maintain a workable classroom management plan.
English for Academic Proficiency Professor
Valencia College
08.2007 - 01.2016
- Teach context-appropriate writing styles; the place of formal grammar; review of grammatical structures; communicative grammar practice; and writing at different levels
- Understand the diversified learning needs of students and aid in the development and implementation of technology projects designed to create positive results in individuals and groups
- Continually promote the use of advanced technologies in daily activities and employ exceptional knowledge to develop and implement instructional classroom applications, and learning measurement tools.
Early Childhood Teacher
Tutor Time
09.1997 - 07.1999
- Planning, scheduling, and implementing developmentally age-appropriate lesson plans (Montessori Curriculum) organizing and planning special school events, conducting tours, and implementation and evaluation of teacher-child-centered activities, parents' weekly reports, and parent's conferences.
Assistant Director
La Petite Academy
08.1994 - 08.1997
- Parents' accounts child's file, bookkeeping, monthly materials and food orders, petty cash reports, weekly projections, tours, new enrollments, evaluation of new teachers, milestones observations, parents' communications reports, inventory, monthly newsletter, safety guidance manager, and maintain strong family and community relationships.
Education
Doctor of Education, Child and Youth Studies -
Nova Southeastern University
Orlando, FL06.2006
Master of Science, TESOL -
Nova Southeastern University
Orlando, FL06.2002
Bachelor of Science, Elem. Ed. -
Nova Southeastern University
Orlando, FL06.2002
Associate in Applied Science in Child Care -
Hudson Community College
Jersey City, NJ07.1993
Skills
- English
- Spanish
- Communication
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Teamwork
- Faculty Support
- Staff Training
- Training Facilitation
- Subject Matter Expertise
- Teacher Training
- Teaching Strategies
- Data-Driven Instruction
- Professional Development
- Team Collaboration
- Interactive Learning
- Instructional Leadership
- Student Tutoring
- Distance Learning Tools
- Multimedia Integration
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with a team of 12 in the development of the Newcomer Program.
- Achieved multilingual students' graduation through effectively helping with comprehensible instructional strategies.
- Collaborated with two high school faculties in the development and implementation of "Sheltered Instruction and Co-teaching frameworks.
- Documented and resolved curriculum implementation which led to teachers' mastery of the material.
- Supervised a team of 5 staff members.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
Certification
- ADEPT/PAS-T Evaluator Training, SC, 07/2017
- South Carolina State Mentor Training, SC, 08/2017
- ESOL K-12, RESOL K-12, SC, 08/2015
- Read to Succeed, SC, 08/2016
- Gifted Education K-12, SC, 08/2015
- Elementary Education, 1-6 all subject areas, SC, 08/2015
- Child Development Certificate, FL, 08/1995
Affiliations
- National Education Association (NEA)
- Carolina TESOL
- NAEYC
- FLSAM
Professional References
- Mrs. Ashley Ziemer, Instructional Coach, Greenville School District, 700 Millennium Blvd, Greenville, SC, 29607, (864) 452-0800, aziemer@greenville.k12.sc.us
- Mr. Mike Noel, Principal, 201 Burdine Drive, Greenville, SC, 29617, (864) 355-1600, mnoel@greenville.k12.sc.us
- Ms. Vicki Ragan, ESOL Team Teacher, Greenville School District, 1190 Holland Rd., Simpsonville, SC, 29681, (864) 355-6770, vragan@greenville.k12.sc.us
- Rachael Twigg, ELA Teacher, 710 Ike's Rd., Taylors, SC, 29687, (864) 355-7000, rtwigg@greenville.k12.sc.us
Tapestry, soccer, yoga, and dancing
I like learning new skills and recently I have been interested in exploring different hobbies as they help me connect with new cultures around the world. I started learning yoga and dancing online and I have already cleared the beginner level. I generally spend my weekends focusing on exploring new yoga positions and watching dance movies to strengthen my grasp of both disciplines. In addition, “I have played soccer since high school and I have also learned tapestry during my elementary school years. I love watching soccer and do tapestry in my free time as it helps me unwind, and relax as well as boosts my creativity and analytical thinking skills.”
Additional Information
- Spanish, Full Professional Proficiency
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
ESOL Instructional Specialist
Greenville School District
01.2019 - Current
ESOL Teacher
Greenville School District
01.2016 - 01.2019
Mathematics for Elementary & Secondary Education I & II
Phoenix University
09.2012 - 05.2016
English for Academic Proficiency Professor
Valencia College
08.2007 - 01.2016
Gifted Intermediate Math & Science Specialist
Reedy Creek Elementary
08.1999 - 06.2016
Early Childhood Teacher
Tutor Time
09.1997 - 07.1999
Assistant Director
La Petite Academy
08.1994 - 08.1997
Doctor of Education, Child and Youth Studies -
Nova Southeastern University
Master of Science, TESOL -
Nova Southeastern University
Bachelor of Science, Elem. Ed. -
Nova Southeastern University
Associate in Applied Science in Child Care -
Hudson Community College
Similar Profiles
Leslie Dianne Carmel-PorrasLeslie Dianne Carmel-Porras
School Counseling Intern at Greenville County School DistrictSchool Counseling Intern at Greenville County School District
Connor BaldwinConnor Baldwin
School Custodian at Greenville County School DistrictSchool Custodian at Greenville County School District
Brooke DimatteoBrooke Dimatteo
Mathematics Teacher at Greenville County School DistrictMathematics Teacher at Greenville County School District
Carybel DiazCarybel Diaz
Instructional Support Specialist/ESOL Paraprofessional at Collier County School DistrictInstructional Support Specialist/ESOL Paraprofessional at Collier County School District
Maya EdmondMaya Edmond
ESOL Instructional Support Teacher at Henry County SchoolsESOL Instructional Support Teacher at Henry County Schools