Iona Dawkins
Kissimmee
Summary
Dynamic educator with proven skills in classroom management, differentiated instruction, and student engagement, fostering collaboration and critical thinking among diverse learners.
Passionate Teacher with experience developing and implementing diverse curriculums covering wide range of subjects. Highly skilled at motivating students through positive encouragement and reinforcement of concepts via interactive classroom instruction and observation. Successful in helping students develop strong literacy, numeracy, social and learning skills.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Teacher
Osceola School District
Bill Beck Florida
08.2018 - 06.2025
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans to enhance student comprehension and participation.
- Collaborated with colleagues to create interdisciplinary projects that foster critical thinking skills.
- Monitored student progress through regular assessments, adapting instruction to meet diverse learning needs.
- Led parent-teacher conferences to discuss student performance and strategies for improvement.
- Utilized technology tools to streamline lesson planning and improve communication with students and parents.
- Evaluated educational materials for alignment with state standards, ensuring quality resources are used in classrooms.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Enhanced classroom engagement through the use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
Teacher
United States Virgin Islands Department of Education
St.Thomas USVI
08.2007 - 06.2018
- Mentored new teachers in classroom management techniques and curriculum delivery methods.
- Organized school events promoting community involvement and student engagement in extracurricular activities.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
Teacher
Jamaica Ministry of Education
Jamaica WI
09.1982 - 08.2007
- Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
- Identified struggling students early on and provided additional support through tutoring sessions and modified lesson plans.
- Organized extracurricular activities such as clubs or field trips that enriched students' learning experiences outside traditional classroom settings.
- Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into the curriculum.
- Led professional development workshops for peers on effective classroom management techniques.
- Designed and implemented differentiated instruction strategy to meet diverse learning needs, enhancing educational outcomes.
- Utilized data-driven instruction to tailor lessons for improved academic performance.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Northern Caribbean University
Mandeville Jamaica West Indies05-2004
Skills
- Classroom management
- Relationship building
- Critical thinking
- Lesson planning
- Student engagement
- Behavior management
- Differentiated instruction
- Small group instruction
- Student-centered learning
Accomplishments
- Curriculum Implementation - Instructed pupils in reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, art, and physical education using the curriculum established by the Board of Education.
- Led class to an average 85% increase in reading standardized test scores during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Received commendation from May Pen Primary School principal for successfully working with students with behavior problems.
Certification
- Elementary Education K-6, State of Florida Department Of Education - 07/01/2018-06/30/2023
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Teacher
Osceola School District
08.2018 - 06.2025
Teacher
United States Virgin Islands Department of Education
08.2007 - 06.2018
Teacher
Jamaica Ministry of Education
09.1982 - 08.2007
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Northern Caribbean University