Emily J. Santellan
Nashville,TN
Summary
Passionate K-12 teacher with a strong commitment to supporting classroom superheroes, increasing teacher tenure, and closing the achievement gap. Focused on ensuring equitable education for all students, especially those who need us most. A champion for integrating technology in the classroom, recognizing its ability to facilitate working smarter, not harder. By embracing the creative side of AI, I believe it offers opportunities to benefit both educators and students alike.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Compliance
Empower Tennessee
03.2024 - 10.2024
- Conducted internal programmatic and financial audits to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal grant requirements
- Developed policies and procedures to enhance staff efficiency and productivity
- Created and delivered meaningful and engaging staff training via Zoom and in person using a variety of visual media aids
- Responded to client inquiries and concerns via phone and email with 24 hours
- Built and maintained relationships with key stakeholders in the community
Spanish Teacher
Orange Grove Elementary and Middle Charter School
08.2018 - 06.2022
- Member of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Team as the Spanish Teacher
- Utilized Cognitive Input (CI) and Teaching Proficiency Through Storytelling (TPTS) instructional methods
- Planned and supervised grade-level activities such as fundraisers, field trips, career shadowing days, field days, community volunteer opportunities, holiday celebrations, and school-wide competitions
- Continued instruction virtually and hybrid during the COVID-19 years using a variety of online platforms including Google Classroom, Canvas, PowerSchool, Canva, ScreenCastify, and more to post, record, collect, and grade assignments
- Facilitated live and asynchronous learning opportunities
Spanish Teacher/PBIS Coach
Grace Snell Middle School
08.2014 - 06.2018
- Provided Spanish-language instruction for grades 6-8 and tracked required student records, grades, attendance, and progress
- Coordinated local and district assessments
- Developed and wrote curricula in both Spanish and English that was used in the first district-wide online platform for learning
- Established the first Carnegie Unit Spanish 1 program in the South Gwinnett cluster with approximately 100 students earning high school credit in the first two years
- Implemented school-wide student behavior support programs including Advisement, Mentoring, and PBIS (AMP)
- Created and published behavior-focused weekly lessons
- Reviewed behavior and discipline data to propose process improvements and provide staff training resulting in a 45% reduction in ODRs in the first year
- Planned and oversaw student incentives and rewards (pizza parties, Walk N Talks, goodie-bag give-a-ways)
- Raised approximately $5,000 to support program year activities
Employment Services Program Manager
Ottawa County Michigan Works
07.2010 - 06.2013
- Supervised 12 staff that assisted unemployment claimants in maintaining their eligibility for monetary benefits, looking for work, entering training, and obtaining sustainable employment
- Developed million-dollar annual budgets and tracked program expenditures, trained and evaluated staff, collaborated with campus departments to ensure efficient and streamlined delivery of services, and database-management
- Coordinated on-campus and off-campus events to bring employers and job seekers together; including, week-long Ready Now! job-skills workshops and interviews
- Oversaw training and case management services delivery to thousands of TAA/TGAAA/TAAEA qualified clients including entering and completing training and obtaining and retaining employment; and, met or exceeded all program goals
- Maintained a working knowledge of local, state, and federal program policies and developed and submitted budget and program outcome reports
- Collaborated with the Business Services team to provide staffing, recruitment, and placement services to local, eligible employers
Substitute Teacher
PESG
06.2006 - 03.2009
- Maintained a positive and efficient learning environment despite the change in authority figures
- Completed a long-term assignment as a Spanish teacher during a maternity leave including all lesson planning, grading, and reporting
- Established a positive reputation in four school districts as a reliable English/Spanish-speaking teacher
- Built relationships with the Special Education and ESOL departments in the area
Education
Master's - Educational Leadership
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MIBachelor of Arts - Secondary Education, English and Spanish
Hope College
Skills
- Data-driven decision making
- Records management
- Training and mentoring
- Needs assessment
- Customer service
- Software implementation
- Relationship management
- Research and due diligence
Certification
Teaching Certification, Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, 2002
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Director of Compliance
Empower Tennessee
03.2024 - 10.2024
Spanish Teacher
Orange Grove Elementary and Middle Charter School
08.2018 - 06.2022
Spanish Teacher/PBIS Coach
Grace Snell Middle School
08.2014 - 06.2018
Employment Services Program Manager
Ottawa County Michigan Works
07.2010 - 06.2013
Substitute Teacher
PESG
06.2006 - 03.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Secondary Education, English and Spanish
Hope College
Master's - Educational Leadership
Cornerstone University