Dustin T Orton
Warrensburg
Summary
- In my 12 years at Holden Middle School, I have shown my ability to lead and coach. I have led multiple professional development sessions. I have also served on the Building Leadership Team for the last 6 out of 7 years. During that time I collaborated with fellow members working on plans for how the school will function and go forward.
- My biggest strength is building student relationships. I have had many instances where students struggle behaviorally in classes, but have no issue in mine. I want to extend this skill to help students and other teachers through BIST.
- I am currently earning my Educational Specialist in Leadership and will graduate in December 2025.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
3
3
Certification
Work History
Teacher
Holden R-III
08.2014 - Current
- Developed and implemented lesson plans aligned with state standards.
- Fostered a positive learning environment to enhance student engagement.
- Utilized technology tools to facilitate interactive learning experiences.
- Assessed student performance through various evaluation methods.
- Mentored new teachers in classroom management and teaching techniques.
- Led professional development workshops to improve teaching practices.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
- Served on school committees focused on curriculum development, teacher evaluations, or community outreach initiatives to contribute positively to the overall school climate.
- Improved student engagement by incorporating interactive learning technologies into lesson plans.
- Enhanced literacy skills with targeted reading programs.
- Led professional development workshops for peers on effective classroom management techniques.
Sales Associate/Kitchen Cook
Casey's General
08.2012 - Current
- Trained new staff on company policies, sales techniques, and customer engagement strategies.
- Managed inventory levels, ensuring timely restocking of popular items and reducing stockouts.
- Implemented promotional displays to increase product visibility and drive sales growth.
- Organized racks and shelves to maintain store visual appeal, engage customers, and promote specific merchandise.
- Handled cash transactions efficiently while adhering to company cash handling policies, ensuring accuracy in all financial exchanges.
- Maintained calm demeanor and professionally managed issues in busy, high-stress situations.
Manager
John Clark
04.2006 - 07.2012
- Team leadership and staff supervision
- Hiring, training, and onboarding employees
- Scheduling and labor cost control
- Performance coaching and conflict resolution
- Motivating and retaining staff
- Guest relations and customer satisfaction
- Handling complaints and service recovery
- Creating a positive dining experience
- Quality control and service standards
Education
Educational Specialist - Educational Leadership And Management
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO12-2026
Master of Science in Education - Curriculum And Instruction
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO05-2018
Bachelor of Science in Education - Middle School/Junior High Education
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO05-2014
Associate of Arts - Middle School Teaching
Three Rivers Community College
Poplar Bluff, MO 05-2012
High School Diploma -
Poplar Bluff High School
Poplar Bluff, MO 05-2008
Skills
- Critical thinking
- Relationship building
- Lesson planning
- Motivating students
- Behavior management
- Student rapport
- Growth mindset
- Conflict resolution
- Classroom instruction
- Curriculum development
- Social-emotional learning training
Accomplishments
- Collaborated and led a Social Studies Cohort for Social Studies teachers in our region. (2024-2025)
- Completed Teacher Academy through RPDC (2023-2024)
- Completed Powerful Task Design through RPDC (2024-2025)
- Curriculum Development
- Student Council Sponsor (2014-Present)
- Assistant Science Olympiad Coach (2018-Present)
- Served on Professional Development Committee (2019-Present)
- Served on Calendar Committee (2017-Present)
- Mentor to New Teachers (2018-Present)
- Building Leadership Team (2019-2022 & 2023-Present)
- Summer School Teacher (2015-2019 & 2021-Present)
Certification
5-9 English Language Arts
5-9 Social Studies
Timeline
Teacher
Holden R-III
08.2014 - Current
Sales Associate/Kitchen Cook
Casey's General
08.2012 - Current
Manager
John Clark
04.2006 - 07.2012
Educational Specialist - Educational Leadership And Management
University of Central Missouri
Master of Science in Education - Curriculum And Instruction
University of Central Missouri
Bachelor of Science in Education - Middle School/Junior High Education
University of Central Missouri
Associate of Arts - Middle School Teaching
Three Rivers Community College
High School Diploma -
Poplar Bluff High School
2024 Semi-Finalist Missouri State Teacher of the Year
I was nominated for Regional Teacher of the Year in Spring of 2024. I was asked to write three essays answering different prompts. In the Summer of 2024 I was awarded Central Regional Teacher of the year, which allowed me to move on to next level. I constructed three more essays. I was one of 17 educators who was awarded the Semi-Finalist Missouri State Teacher of the year.