Geraldine Rivas
Elementary Teacher
Eden Prairie,MN
Summary
Passionate and dedicated bilingual educator with a strong background in early childhood and elementary education. Skilled in creating engaging, student-centered learning environments that foster academic, social, and emotional growth. Experienced in developing differentiated lesson plans, implementing inclusive strategies, and collaborating with families and colleagues to support diverse learners. Committed to promoting curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning through innovative teaching methods and a nurturing classroom atmosphere.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages
Work History
Sped Teacher Elementary (PK-1)
Aurora Charter School
Minneapolis, Minnesota
08.2024 - Current
- Supported young learners with diverse needs in a bilingual program serving the Latino community.
- Conducted assessments to identify learning challenges and develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Implemented behavior management strategies tailored to student needs.
- Collaborated with teachers, administrators, and external agencies to ensure appropriate services for students.
- Maintained strong communication with families, fostering parental involvement and acting as a bridge between home and school.
- Participated in school events, professional development, and training to enhance teaching skills.
- Created a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every child could thrive.
- Increased student engagement by incorporating hands-on activities and real-world examples in lesson plans.
- Designed instructional materials tailored to meet the unique learning styles of each student, resulting in increased understanding of course content.
Classroom Teacher 2nd Grade
Aurora Charter School
Minnesapolis, Minnesota
08.2021 - 08.2024
- Taught a class of 24 students in a 90/10 Spanish immersion model, fostering bilingualism and academic growth.
- Designed and adapted engaging, standards-based lessons to support language development in both Spanish and English.
- Created a safe, inclusive classroom where students felt valued and encouraged to take pride in their culture and language.
- Used data-driven instruction, closely monitoring student progress and providing targeted support based on assessments.
- Maintained strong relationships with families, ensuring open communication in Spanish and actively involving parents in their child’s education.
- Collaborated with colleagues to align curriculum, share effective teaching strategies, and enhance student learning.
- Participated in school events and professional development to continually grow as an educator.
- Inspired students to develop confidence in both languages and a lifelong love for learning.
Kindergarten Classroom Teacher
Aurora Charter School
Minneapolis, Minnesota
08.2016 - 08.2021
- Taught 20 students foundational literacy skills in Spanish, focusing on phonics, letter recognition, and vocabulary development.
- Designed and delivered engaging, immersive lessons in Spanish, ensuring students built confidence in their bilingual abilities.
- Regularly assessed student progress and provided individualized support to meet diverse learning needs.
- Integrated outdoor and environmental education, using nature as a learning space to enhance student engagement and curiosity.
- Fostered strong parent relationships, maintaining open communication in Spanish to support student learning at home.
- Collaborated with colleagues to align instruction, share best practices, and enhance the dual language curriculum.
- Created a nurturing, inclusive classroom that encouraged students to explore, question, and develop a love for learning.
Spanish Credit Teacher / Counselor
Concordia Language Villages
Bemidji, Minnesota
02.2013 - 08.2014
- Designed and led cultural and evening programs, fostering immersive language experiences.
- Facilitated hands-on activities for large groups of children, youth, and adults to promote engagement and cultural understanding.
- Supported students in improving Spanish pronunciation, expanding vocabulary, and developing conversational fluency.
- Promoted environmental stewardship by integrating eco-friendly practices into daily routines and educational sessions.
- Developed leadership skills in campers through structured activities that encouraged personal responsibility and teamwork.
- Collaborated with other senior counselors to plan special events such as talent shows, theme nights, and field trips.
- Worked with children of varying age, interest, skill, and developmental levels.
- Led groups of children safely through variety of camp activities.
Adjunt Spanish Instructor Elementary Spanish II
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota
01.2014 - 05.2014
- Study and practice of the four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Stress on pronunciation, basic grammatical forms, and language patterns.
- Special emphasis on the Hispanic culture and civilization.
- Evaluated individual student progress regularly through formative assessments which allowed for tailored lesson planning.
- Enhanced students'' language skills by incorporating immersive activities and real-world examples into lessons.
Kindergarten Teacher / First Grade Teacher
Unidad Educativa Privada “Saman De Guere”
Turmero, Venezuela
09.2009 - 06.2012
- Improved student reading skills through phonics-based instruction and guided reading activities.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve classroom challenges.
- Promoted learning through play with engaging activities, games, and lessons.
- Fostered curiosity and interdisciplinary learning through thematic, student-centered instruction.
- Implemented diverse teaching strategies to support academic and social growth.
- Connected new content to students' prior knowledge to strengthen understanding.
- Created a welcoming, dynamic, and stimulating classroom environment to inspire learning.
- Fostered social-emotional growth in students through daily morning meetings, conflict resolution strategies, and character education lessons.
Education
Master of Arts - Differentiated Instruction
Concordia University St. Paul
Saint Paul, MN 09.2022 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood B-3
UPEL- Rafael Alberto Escobar Lara
Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela 09.2002 - 07.2008
Skills
Certification
Online Language & Literacy Academy Participation
Timeline
Online Language & Literacy Academy Participation
03-2025
Sped Teacher Elementary (PK-1)
Aurora Charter School
08.2024 - Current
Master of Arts - Differentiated Instruction
Concordia University St. Paul
09.2022 - 01.2023
Classroom Teacher 2nd Grade
Aurora Charter School
08.2021 - 08.2024
Kindergarten Classroom Teacher
Aurora Charter School
08.2016 - 08.2021
Adjunt Spanish Instructor Elementary Spanish II
Bemidji State University
01.2014 - 05.2014
Spanish Credit Teacher / Counselor
Concordia Language Villages
02.2013 - 08.2014
Kindergarten Teacher / First Grade Teacher
Unidad Educativa Privada “Saman De Guere”
09.2009 - 06.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood B-3
UPEL- Rafael Alberto Escobar Lara
09.2002 - 07.2008
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