Ethel Burton

• Directed comprehensive grade-level operations and student services for the 8th-grade cohort and half of the 6th-grade student body (M–Z).
• Cultivated a positive school climate by implementing proactive behavior interventions, resulting in a 27.5% reduction in student suspensions year-over-year (from 40 to 29).
• Managed school-wide safety protocols , including the development and execution of the School Safety Plan and emergency safety drills to ensure regulatory compliance and a secure campus environment.
• Supervised daily campus operations , coordinating school supervision schedules for passing periods, lunches, and arrival/dismissal times to maintain a safe, welcoming environment.
• Served as the designated Williams Visit Administrator , ensuring absolute compliance with state standards regarding instructional materials, facilities, and teacher assignments.
• Coordinated the After School Program (CARES Program/ASP) , monitoring attendance, engagement, and alignment with school-day academic goals.
• Overhauled the student attendance intervention pipeline , successfully driving down School Attendance Review Team (SART) referrals by 69% (from 203 to 62) and School Attendance Review Board (SARB) referrals by 77% (from 109 to 25).
• Targeted and improved chronic absenteeism , raising General Education attendance to 92.7% and securing a significant 2.75% increase in Special Education (SPED) student attendance (from 87.45% to 90.2%).
• Streamlined Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) , optimizing early classroom interventions to reduce the necessity of formal Student Success Teams (SSTs) by 72% (from 25 to 7).
• Spearheaded the CARE TEAM and student intervention frameworks , collaborating with specialists, teachers, and families to support at-promise youth and reduce CARE referrals by 9% (from 43 to 39).
• Facilitated Special Education compliance , actively leading Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, managing student referrals, and ensuring the seamless delivery of accommodations.
• Chaired 504 Annual and Transition meetings , implementing accommodation plans that supported students' academic and social-emotional growth during critical transitional years.

• Evaluated and mentored certificated and classified personnel , conducting formal observations and feedback cycles to drive professional growth and instructional excellence.
• Provided targeted administrative oversight for core curricular departments , including Science, Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA), Physical Education (PE), and Special Education (SPED).
• Supervised the counseling department and grade-level teams , facilitating collaborative planning for 8th and 6th-grade student activities, academic interventions, and community events.
• Managed instructional resources , overseeing the Instructional Materials Account (IMA) and library textbook inventory to guarantee equitable access to learning materials.
• Led the Feeder School Articulation initiative , designing and executing seamless transition pipelines for incoming 5th-to-6th graders and matriculating 8th-to-9th graders.
• Collaborated with Special Education Assistants (SEAs) to optimize classroom support and foster an inclusive learning environment for all students

Policy & Culture Leadership : Spearheaded the transformation of school discipline policies through implementing restorative justice practices, fostering a

school-wide culture grounded in respect, inclusion, and student agency, leading to a 20% reduction in behavioral issues. This involved collaborative policy development and training for all stakeholders.

Instructional Leadership & Equity: Led the design and implementation of an equity-centered and culturally responsive educational model, directly influencing

curriculum and instructional practices to ensure they reflect and affirm the diverse backgrounds of the student body, enhancing the quality and relevance of education for all learners.

Professional Development & Quality: Directed cutting-edge professional development initiatives focused on anti-bias and social justice education, empowering teachers to adopt more inclusive and empathetic instructional approaches, thereby elevating the quality of classroom environments and student experiences.

Academic Strategy & Outcomes: Drove improvements in the quality of education by implementing targeted interventions and personalized learning strategies that effectively addressed achievement gaps, and significantly

increased graduation rates for historically underserved students, demonstrating strategic academic leadership.

Teacher Development & Instructional Quality: Led the transformation of teacher development and onboarding policies and systems, introducing innovative coaching and support frameworks that significantly enhanced

instructional quality across the school, and fostered a unified, high-performing educator team.

Evaluation & Growth for Quality: Implemented a groundbreaking teacher evaluation and coaching program focused on continuous improvement, directly impacting instructional effectiveness and fostering sustained teacher growth, ultimately enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.

Inclusive Practices & Support: Directed targeted summer programs focused on academic recovery, ensuring the implementation of inclusive learning practices and the effective management of Special Education services to improve academic outcomes for diverse learners, emphasizing equitable access to quality

education.

Curriculum & Community Engagement: Collaborated with instructional teams to influence curriculum development towards greater cultural responsiveness,

strengthening the connection between instructional content and the experiences of BIPOC communities, thereby enriching the quality and relevance of education.

Led a comprehensive school-wide culture transformation by integrating Restorative Practices, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and culturally responsive teaching to reduce behavioral incidents and boost student satisfaction.

Collaborated with school and district leadership to codify and scale equitable disciplinary policies, reducing disproportionally in disciplinary actions by 30% and ensuring consistent, regional alignment.

Built strong partnerships with families and community stakeholders , driving initiatives that enhanced family engagement and aligned with a shared vision of joyful, inclusive learning environments.

Implemented data-driven behavior intervention systems aligned with regional and national standards, achieving a 40% reduction in suspension and expulsion rates while promoting equitable discipline and improving student attendance.

Designed and delivered high-impact professional development for educators and leadership teams on equity-driven classroom management, culturally responsive pedagogy, and trauma-informed practices, successfully boosting teacher retention by 15% .

Maintained a school-wide culture of respect by actively utilizing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) disciplinary methods to foster a safe, expressive learning environment.

Developed and executed creative, differentiated lesson plans for grammar, writing, literature, and reading skills tailored to meet the diverse needs of individual learners.

Conducted targeted small-group and individualized instruction to accelerate literacy skills, vocabulary acquisition, and reading comprehension.

Integrated modern educational technology into daily lessons to enhance student engagement and deepen understanding of core language arts concepts.

Collaborated with colleagues to design cross-curricular projects , incorporating multiple instructional strategies and encouraging active student peer-to-peer collaboration.