Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Certification
Awards and Recognition
Interests
Timeline
Generic

Gale Sheaffer

Greenville,SC

Summary

Dynamic educator with a proven track record at Academy at the Lakes, enhancing student engagement through innovative teaching strategies, critical thinking and arts in education. Skilled in parent-teacher communication and adapting to diverse learning styles, I foster collaborative environments that promote academic success and personal growth. Committed to empowering students through personalized feedback and mentorship.

Overview

47
47
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

High School English Instructor

Academy at the Lakes
08.2012 - 07.2025
  • Promoted a positive classroom environment by establishing clear expectations and fostering mutual respect among students.
  • Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary units that connected English content with other subject areas.
  • Improved students'' writing skills by providing personalized feedback and guidance on essay assignments.
  • Increased student engagement during class discussions by implementing innovative questioning techniques and protocols.
  • Developed strong relationships with parents to support students'' academic success and personal growth.
  • Assessed student progress through formative and summative assessments, adjusting instruction as needed for optimal results.
  • Enhanced student comprehension of complex texts through close reading activities and group projects.


Middle School English Instructor

Norfolk Academy
08.1978 - 05.2005
  • Initiated theatre program with year-round performances grades 7-12 and directed the first musical. First Head of Fine Arts Program
  • Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations and consistently enforcing consequences when necessary.
  • Designed engaging lesson plans that addressed diverse learning styles and promoted active participation.
  • Maintained classroom discipline and modeled correct behaviors.

Adjunct Professor

American University
08.1995 - 05.1997
  • Taught "Reflections of American Society Onstage and Screen 20th Century" courses, providing instruction to 15-70 undergraduate students per class.
  • Built relationships with students, mentoring on personal, professional and academic goals while providing coaching on effective study habits.
  • Graded papers, projects., and class participation to provide students with timely academic progress information and feedback.
  • Boosted class participation rates by fostering a positive and collaborative learning environment.
  • Promoted a positive learning environment through clear communication, active listening, and constructive feedback.
  • Streamlined grading processes with efficient rubrics that ensured consistency in evaluating student work across all sections of a course.
  • Encouraged class discussions by building discussions into participatory lessons, actively soliciting input, asking open-ended questions and using techniques to track student participation.

Education

No Degree - Arts Management

University of Massachusetts At Amherst
Amherst, MA
08-2020

Theatre

Illinois State University
Normal, IL
08-1973

Bachelor of Arts - Double Major: English And Theatre

Tusculum University
Greeneville, TN
05-1973

Skills

  • Parent-teacher communication
  • Teaching strategies
  • Study skills
  • Student motivation
  • Critical thinking
  • Team collaboration
  • Adapting to different learning styles
  • Digital media presentations
  • Faculty collaboration
  • Distance learning
  • [Language] fluency
  • [State] teaching certification: Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio (all expired now but running throughout career)
  • Grammar rules
  • Communication expertise

Accomplishments

  • Built classroom library of contemporary and classic literature for high school students
  • Provided Professional Development for FICS: Strategies for Reluctant Students (2020)
  • Grade 10 Public Speaking Program
  • Initiated and led students to complete in NPR's Annual Podcast Challenge in connection with studies of The Grapes of Wrath and more

Affiliations

  • ATHE: Association of Theatre in Higher Education, VP Advocacy 2016-2020

Certification

  • Licensed English and Theatre: Pennsulvania, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia and Florida (1976-2024)

Awards and Recognition

·   Award of recognition from the Maryland Food Committee, 1993 for "Mission: Nutrition".

·  Awarded Technical Award from the Maryland one-Act Play Festival, 1988 for "Bay Country Folklore" held at Montgomery County Community College, Maryland.

·  Named in 1988 as "One of the people to Watch in Cecil County.", (Cecil Whig,June, 1988)

·  Cited in two Finnish newspapers for “Pathway to the New World” - play honoring Finnish immigration history in the new world.

·  Winner of technical Merit Award by the Maryland One-Act play festival, 1987; “American Folk Heroes” (1987) - a play exploring the stories of our American traditional folk heroes.

·  Awarded grant to nominate CBT to STAGE II (Management Audit from the Washington Support Center) - and STAGE III (a $10,000 grant and Management Consultant time from the Washington Support Center) from the Maryland State Arts Council to develop the administrative staff and long-range planning skills of CBT. (1991-2)

Interests

  • I participate in various sports activities for physical activity, camaraderie, and personal growth: Walking and Biking
  • Mindfulness Practices: Yoga

Timeline

High School English Instructor

Academy at the Lakes
08.2012 - 07.2025

Adjunct Professor

American University
08.1995 - 05.1997

Middle School English Instructor

Norfolk Academy
08.1978 - 05.2005

No Degree - Arts Management

University of Massachusetts At Amherst

Theatre

Illinois State University

Bachelor of Arts - Double Major: English And Theatre

Tusculum University

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Gale Sheaffer