Heidi Leonard
Pueblo,CO
Summary
Elementary General Education Leader with a robust background in planning, developing, implementing, and analyzing instructional practices tailored for students and educators. Committed to fostering children's development and enhancing team success through impactful educational experiences. Passionate about contributing to organizational growth while addressing the diverse educational needs of the local community. Proven ability to inspire collaboration and innovation within educational settings, ensuring a positive and effective learning environment for all stakeholders.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Elementary Literacy
Pueblo City Schools District 60
Pueblo, CO
08.2024 - Current
- Contributed to school-wide initiatives focused on boosting literacy and numeracy skills, resulting in significant growth and achievement across all subject areas.
- Coordinated intervention programs designed specifically to improve literacy rates among underperforming students across grade levels.
- Promoted literacy skills through focused reading and writing activities, resulting in improved language proficiency among students.
- Improved literacy skills by implementing research-based instructional and conducting guided reading sessions with targeted literacy strategies for diverse populations.
- Organized professional development workshops for fellow educators, sharing best practices in literacy instruction and reading recovery strategies.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in elementary education, enhancing my instructional effectiveness.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement by leading PLCs, reflecting on personal practice and school practices to provide opportunities for growth throughout the school.
- Utilized multimedia resources to supplement traditional texts, increasing student interest in social studies topics and promoting digital literacy skills.
- Implemented research-based strategies to promote literacy development among ELL students within various content areas.
- Organized school library and served as the school librarian to organize literacy events, encouraging love of reading.
- Served as an advisor for the after-school reading club, promoting literacy skills among students outside of regular classroom hours.
- Championed literacy initiatives within the school setting by organizing events such as author visits, book clubs, and reading challenges designed to foster a love of literature among all learners and the school community.
- Spearheaded community outreach initiatives aimed at promoting financial literacy and fostering positive relationships with local organizations.
Elementary Instructional Coach
Pueblo City Schools District 60
Pueblo, CO
08.2022 - 06.2024
- Establish and maintain positive relations with teachers, administrators, and staff members to communicate and promote a positive culture of building development
- Plan and deliver professional development to support professional growth of teachers and staff, tailoring PD plans to address specific needs and promote continuous improvement
- Conduct classroom observations to provide personalized, differentiated development to educators with a progression of skills and knowledge, leading to improved teaching practices and student performance
- Model and demonstrate research-based instructional practices that result in increased student achievement through collaborative coaching, utilizing observation/feedback cycles
- Provide curriculum support to instructional staff with a solid understanding of age appropriate, grade level standards and academic expectations to promote progressive vertical alignment
- Participate in continuous trainings provided by district partnerships and execute building expectations influenced by partnership representatives
- Analyze multi-curricular content data to plan and facilitate grade specific data meetings
- Plan and conduct grade specific weekly PLC meetings, fostering collaboration and shared learning among teachers
- Organize and collaboratively plan student grouping arrangements for small group instructional deliveries
- Plan and deliver differentiated small group instruction to support learners with extended support intervention and/or enrichment
- Ensure mandated compliance of individualized learning plans (READ)
- Developed mentorship program for new teachers, enhancing their teaching skills and confidence in classroom.
- Boosted teacher morale through regular recognition events celebrating success stories from classrooms across the campus.
Elementary General Education
Pueblo City Schools District 60
Pueblo, CO
08.2017 - 06.2022
- A full time teacher instructing in ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and SEL to classrooms of diverse social/emotional and academic needs
- Established rapport with students, parents, critical family members, colleagues, and community members
- Work collaboratively with grade-level members through PLCs and daily planning to ensure student progress
- Enhance student engagement for learning through maintaining collaborative learning classroom environment
- Observe, plan, teach, and assess practice to inform and modify instruction for multi-cultural classes with many levels of ability
- Research and propose diverse curricula to enhance student success fro a vast range of learning barriers
- Implement multiple forms of assessment to continually analyze student growth and drive instruction
- Manage and maintain a positive classroom environment established upon student empowerment with flexibility, ownership, accountability, independence, culture of error, and success
- Participate in continuous cycle of coaching and learning administered by 2Partner Math Consultants to serve as the Primary Grade Level Building Math Lead
- Administered, scored, and analyzed student growth and development through various standardized assessments - iStation Reading/Math, School City Interim, COGAT, DIBELS Next, Burst Reading Amplify, etc.
- Organize summer reading programs to instill and foster a love of reading
Elementary Literacy Interventionist & Instructional Coach
Pueblo City Schools District 60
Pueblo, CO
08.2015 - 06.2017
- Create positive relations with teachers and administrators to communicate and demonstrate research-based instructional practices that result in increased student achievement through collaborative coaching utilizing observation/feedback training
- Assess student learning using a variety of measures to determine appropriate placement and instructional needs
- Utilize assessment and data analysis to target specific student needs for remediation
- Employ a broad knowledge of the 5 Components of Reading
- Serve as a liaison between school and Department of Curriculum & Instruction by attending meetings and disseminating information, knowledge, and professional development
Primary Grade Level Lead Teacher
Pueblo City Schools District 60
Pueblo, CO
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Develop lessons and instruct primary grade students in all content areas of Common Core Standards, Science Academic Standards, and grade level expectations
- Integrate technology through the development of scaffold computer skills to enhance future success of state assessment testing
- Prepared documentation and organized RTI agendas for necessary student achievement
- Conceptualized and developed Individual Learning Plans/READ Plans
- Provide onsite training for staff based on personal professional growth opportunities
- Successfully led cultural projects which resulted in an increase of school pride, student self-worth, and positive moral
- Communicate effectively with all members of the school, district, and community
Early Childhood Educator
Pueblo City Schools District 60
Pueblo, CO
01.2008 - 01.2012
- Implement the foundations of an educational environment based upon an integrated approach to child development
- Design, develop, and instruct curriculum aligned with district, state, and national standards that fostered a sense of curiosity and a deeper understanding of varied content subjects
- Employed kinesthetic, visual, and auditory approaches to implement lessons of student interest with student interaction
- Administered developmentally appropriate assessment – High Scope Child Observation Record (COR), PHELPS Assessment, Denver II Assessment
Educator of 2nd Grade Special Education
Blue Ridge Elementary School
Pine Top, AZ
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Implement the foundations of an educational environment based upon an integrated approach to child development
- Design, develop, and instruct curriculum aligned with district, state, and national standards that fostered a sense of curiosity and a deeper understanding of varied content subjects
- Employed kinesthetic, visual, and auditory approaches to implement lessons of student interest with student interaction
- Administered developmentally appropriate assessment – High Scope Child Observation Record (COR), PHELPS Assessment, Denver II Assessment
Early Childhood Educator
Pueblo School District 70
Pueblo West, CO
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Implement the foundations of an educational environment based upon an integrated approach to child development
- Design, develop, and instruct curriculum aligned with district, state, and national standards that fostered a sense of curiosity and a deeper understanding of varied content subjects
- Employed kinesthetic, visual, and auditory approaches to implement lessons of student interest with student interaction
- Administered developmentally appropriate assessment – High Scope Child Observation Record (COR), PHELPS Assessment, Denver II Assessment
Education
Principal Licensure Certificate - Education
Colorado State University
Pueblo, CO12-2025
Master of Education - Learning & Technology
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT01-2020
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
University of Phoenix
Colorado Springs, CO01-2012
Associates of Arts - Elementary Education
University of Phoenix
Colorado Springs, CO01-2010
Associates of Arts - Early Childhood Education
Pueblo Community College
Pueblo, CO01-2006
Skills
- Building Leadership
- Educator Mentor
- Continued Learning in Scientific Based Educational Best Practices
- Vast Understanding of Common Core Standards
- Ability to Write Lesson Objectives, Learning Goals, and Student Outcomes
- Creative/Multi-curricular Lesson Planning
- Whole Class CORE Instruction/Small Group Differentiated Instruction
- Intentional Guided Reading
- Collaborative/Cooperative Peer Instruction
- Literature Writers Theatre Circles
- Empowered Educational Setting
- Classroom Management
- Technology Integration
- Student Assessment/Data Analysis
- Strong Communication Skills/Positive Relations
- Observation/Feedback Training & Experience
- Time Management/Organized Planning
- Self-Reflection/Growth Mindset/Continuous Learner
- Passion to Instill a Love of Learning
Certification
- Principal Licensure Certificate
- ELPD License Designation
- READ Act License Designation
- State of Colorado Teacher License
- Early Childhood ~ 6th Grade
Timeline
Elementary Literacy
Pueblo City Schools District 60
08.2024 - Current
Elementary Instructional Coach
Pueblo City Schools District 60
08.2022 - 06.2024
Elementary General Education
Pueblo City Schools District 60
08.2017 - 06.2022
Elementary Literacy Interventionist & Instructional Coach
Pueblo City Schools District 60
08.2015 - 06.2017
Primary Grade Level Lead Teacher
Pueblo City Schools District 60
01.2013 - 01.2016
Early Childhood Educator
Pueblo City Schools District 60
01.2008 - 01.2012
Educator of 2nd Grade Special Education
Blue Ridge Elementary School
01.2007 - 01.2008
Early Childhood Educator
Pueblo School District 70
01.2004 - 01.2007
Master of Education - Learning & Technology
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
University of Phoenix
Associates of Arts - Elementary Education
University of Phoenix
Associates of Arts - Early Childhood Education
Pueblo Community College
Principal Licensure Certificate - Education
Colorado State University
PROFILE
- Elementary educator who excels in cultivating and maintaining positive and productive relationships with all educational constituencies including students, families, teachers, administrators, and the community.
- Strong instructional leader with significant education experience and solid foundation in best practices for all content areas.
- Skilled practitioner who continues to expand knowledge of current best practices through professional development and builds a network of diverse colleagues.