Dr. Vaundra R. Walters
Suffolk,VA
Summary
Passionate educator with a strong desire to bring success to a school district by mentoring and supporting teacher practice. Dedicated to meeting school district goals by building positive relationships, promoting resources and programs to foster success. Strong communicator who can clearly and confidently work with adults face-to face or in a virtual setting. Outgoing, energetic, and motivating personality to encourage adults to grow in their profession while valuing diversity and individuality. Team player who is committed to contributing to departmental objectives to create an optimal experience for both faculty and staff.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Reading & English Middle School Program Specialist
Portsmouth Public Schools
Portsmouth, VA
08.2017 - Current
- Responsible for curriculum development, implementation, and revision
- Build teacher capacity in assigned schools through observation, purposeful feedback, and one-on-one professional development
- Support district’s vision of success for literacy in all middle schools
- Assists in planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring of all middle school English programs, services, activities and curriculum;
- Ensures proper correlation between English instructional delivery and attainment of Standards of Learning;
- Coordinates English test development;
- Monitors all levels of English performance data
- Serves as resource to teachers and administrators to serve all students
- Provides guidance and participation in division and school improvement initiatives;
- Coordinates in-service programs for middle school English team
- Organizes and coordinates instructional committees
- Lead administrative and staff professional development/Professional Learning Communities
- Assists in collaborating and consulting with other administrators to coordinate instructional program
- Prepares information for local, state and federal reports
- Provides staff development as needed
- Supervised Instructional coaches and Interventionists
- Assists with New Teacher Orientation for middle school English teachers
8th Grade Eng Teacher/Instructional Support Leader
Jefferson Davis Middle School
Hampton, VA
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Prepared, planned, and executed First Annual Family Literacy Night
- Accountable for designing and implementing engaging Language Arts lessons,
- Met social, academic, and emotional needs of all learners, differentiating instruction
- Foster positive relationships within Language Arts department
- Mentor new teachers in department
- Observed new teachers; provided feedback and next steps for teacher growth; co-teaching, resources
- Assigned daily lesson plans designed to motivate students and allow for creativity.
- Lead ELA Department through professional development sessions, mentoring teachers, and building capacity throughout department.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Kept classroom environments consistent and focused on learning by establishing and enforcing clear objectives.
- Prepared daily lesson plans for activities.
- Assessed submitted class assignments, determined grades and reviewed work with struggling students to boost success chance.
- Integrated technology into classroom as instructional tool, such as Promethean boards and I Pads
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
- Scheduled appointments with parents to discuss student progress and classroom behavior.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
- Cultivated relationships with parents for complete support network.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of students.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
- Established positive rapport with all students and parents through home calls, emails and Parent Teacher Club.
- Provided one-on-one attention to students, while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
Adjunct Composition Instructor
ITT Technical Institute
Norfolk, VA
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Initiated thought provoking lectures and classroom discussion to develop critical thinking skills
- Established clear expectations and communicated effectively to a group of diverse adult learners from various backgrounds
- Implemented multi-media teaching tools to help students become skilled writers, related course material to real world situations
- Kept thorough record of student grades and attendance.
- Engaged students with insightful and compelling classroom discussion of topics relevant to coursework to boost student learning and retention.
- Organized, prepared and revised English course material and applied technological options for online and course-related software.
8th Grade Teacher
Lake Taylor Middle School
Norfolk, VA
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Challenged to provide leadership direction in establishing and developing a positive cohesive team throughout the Language Arts department
- Responsible for the overall functioning of the Reading and English team
- Mentor new teachers to the department
- Assist fellow teachers in assignment development
- Assess teacher performance through formal and informal observations
- Provided professional development on new practices & programs pertaining Reading and Writing
- Instructed 8th grade students using the state curriculum
- Prepared and implemented engaging lesson plans to meet the social, intellectual, and academic needs of all students
- Actively engaged students through the use of diverse manipulative, monitor student performance through alternative assessments, student portfolios, anecdotal records, student-teacher conferencing, and peer evaluation.
Grade Reading Teacher
Lafayette-Winona Middle School
Norfolk, VA
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Responsible for instructing students in a Regular Education and Special Education setting teaching reading and writing skills and strategies
- Organized, created, and executed lesson plans for 8th grade reading classes, supported a balanced Reading program through implementation of Reading and Writing Workshops
- Integrated technology through the use of thematic unit that included computer literacy skills, and
- Adapted activities to meet the needs of the individual learner.
- Assessed and reported on each student's reading progress in accordance with policies developed by school district.
- Created positive and engaging environment in classroom that encouraged literacy skills.
- Interpreted student assessment data to ascertain best intervention methods.
- Affirmatively communicated and promoted positive attitude with each and every student.
- Provided tutoring and after school assistance to students requiring additional help with reading.
- Planned and supervised class projects, field trips and visits by guest speakers.
Long Term Substitute Teacher
Norfolk Public Schools
Norfolk, VA
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Developed rules and set goals to maintain order in classroom.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
- Provided instruction for students in core subject areas.
- Maintained day-to-day classroom management and discipline to promote learning initiatives.
- Collaborated with teaching staff to implement coordinated educational strategies and student support networks.
6th Grade English Teacher
Lafayette-Winona Middle School
Norfolk, VA
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Provided instruction to students in a Regular education class and Special Education setting teaching English skills
- Created various lessons that fostered to kinesthetic, audio, and visual learners.
- Promoted effective verbal and written communication through listening, speaking, reading and writing practice.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Administered assessments and standardized tests to evaluate student progress.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Helped students develop academic, social and emotional skills for long-term success.
- Cultivated relationships with parents for complete support network.
- Worked with administrators on behavioral issues to support needs of students.
- Evaluated academic skills of each student through verbal assessments, graded assignments and standardized tests.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
Education
Ph.D. - Educational Leadership & Administration
Capella University
2022
Masters of Education - Interdisciplinary Studies
Cambridge College
2009
Bachelor of Arts Degree - English
Virginia State University
2002
Skills
- Instructional Leadership
- Team building & Leadership
- Educational Support
- Colleague Collaborations
- Curriculum Planning and Implementation
- Group Sessions
- Team Collaboration
- Multimedia Instruction
- Setting Learning Targets
- State Standards Adherence
- Teacher Observation
- Teacher Modeling
- Positive Reinforcement Strategies
- Committee Leadership
- Instructional Strategies
Additional Information
- ACHIEVEMENTS , Apple for the Teacher Award Recipient-2013
Timeline
Reading & English Middle School Program Specialist
Portsmouth Public Schools
08.2017 - Current
8th Grade Eng Teacher/Instructional Support Leader
Jefferson Davis Middle School
01.2014 - 01.2017
Adjunct Composition Instructor
ITT Technical Institute
01.2014 - 01.2016
8th Grade Teacher
Lake Taylor Middle School
01.2011 - 01.2014
Grade Reading Teacher
Lafayette-Winona Middle School
01.2007 - 01.2011
Long Term Substitute Teacher
Norfolk Public Schools
01.2005 - 01.2007
6th Grade English Teacher
Lafayette-Winona Middle School
01.2002 - 01.2005
Ph.D. - Educational Leadership & Administration
Capella University
Masters of Education - Interdisciplinary Studies
Cambridge College
Bachelor of Arts Degree - English
Virginia State University
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