IRIS VELARDE
Buda,Texas
Summary
Dedicated and highly experienced educator with a passion for contributing to the development and growth of students and educators from diverse backgrounds. Strong knowledge base and expertise in technology integration skills, along with a deep understanding of current best practices in the field. Committed to creating a dynamic learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Seeking an opportunity to utilize extensive knowledge, experience, and skills to make a positive impact on the educational community.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
First Grade & 7th Grade ELA Teacher, Coach/Mentor Teacher
Austin Peace Academy
08.2023 - Current
- Evaluated academic skills of each student through verbal assessments, graded assignments, and standardized tests.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
- Promoted effective verbal and written communication through listening, speaking, reading, and writing practice.
- Taught age-appropriate spelling techniques, grammar rules, and language skills.
- Completed in-service and additional training to maintain professional growth.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Helped students develop academic, social and emotional skills for long-term success.
- Established positive rapport with all students and parents through home calls, emails, and Parent Teacher Club.
- Integrated Smartboard and other instructional technologies into classroom.
- Administered and interpreted assessment results to determine learners' challenges.
- Implemented differentiated instruction to meet needs of diverse learners.
- Devised and implemented classroom management strategies, maintaining safe and pleasant learning environment.
- Communicated with parents and guardians regarding student progress and behavioral issues.
- Utilized various coaching models and techniques to maximize teacher success.
- Provided guidance to teachers in overcoming challenges and identifying opportunities.
- Offered constructive feedback to teachers to help reach goals.
- Facilitated team building activities and workshops to improve communication, collaboration and productivity.
- Developed and delivered presentations to educate teachers on topics related to current best practices.
- Developed relationships with teachers to provide ongoing support and encouragement.
Second Grade Teacher
Austin Achieve Elementary School
01.2021 - Current
- Implement variety of teaching methods such as discussions, cooperative learning, and differentiation
- Improve student engagement by implementing classroom management techniques to foster academic curiosity
- Create positive and culturally diverse classroom where students feel empowered and fully capable of their abilities to succeed
- Establish positive relationships with students, parents, fellow teachers, and school administration
- Observe and assess student performance and keep thorough records of progress
- Develop grade level meeting agendas and lead grade level team meetings
- Create and manage meeting norms for grade level
- Meet and collaborate with other grade level chairs to share and discuss progress, successes, challenges, and problem-solving solutions during biweekly after-school or before-school meetings with campus CLT
- Own scholar culture by planning, organizing, and leading Community Meetings (CM); including Student of Week Tracker, Printing Certificates, organizing games, and emailing team CM
- Oversee and execute grade level Class Dojo auctions/raffles, competitions, and culture builders
- Manage calendars for grade level and ensure all team members are meeting deadlines and follow up with teammates that are not meeting deadlines
- Maintain positive team attitude relentlessly geared towards scholar success
- Model effective instructional practice for grade level
- Serve as communication conduit between teachers on grade level team and campus leaders
- Communicate with Mentor Teachers through biweekly mentor/mentee meetings and meet with Mentor Teacher Lead to receive feedback, discuss next steps in fellow development, and ensure Scope and Sequence is up to date
- Provide opportunities throughout year for Teaching Fellow to practice planning and delivering lessons
- Provide feedback for Teaching Fellow lesson planning and delivery
- Lead quarterly AAPS Culture Rubric reflection and feedback sessions with Teaching Fellow
- Hold Teaching Fellow accountable to deadlines and professionalism expectations as stipulated in AAPS Culture Rubric and Employee Handbook
- Analyze F&P data and set and communicate a vision for an initiative that addresses an academic inequity
- Lead grade level F&P data meeting that addresses action steps for second grade in response to the data - Low, Intermediate, and High Literacy Groups.
IB PYP First Grade Teacher
Advanced Learning Schools
01.2018 - 01.2020
- Design, prepare and deliver high-quality lessons in English language to suit individual needs of all students in line with PYP
- Inspire mixed culture and ability classes, by creating challenging and engaging learning opportunities for all students
- Assess and monitor student progress and provide targets so that all learners can see success and improve
- Collaborate with other teachers to share new ideas, approaches, and professional knowledge
- Communicate accurately and regularly with parents
- Liaise with Head of Primary School and PYP Coordinator to ensure effective delivery of curriculum to specified classes, including selecting resources and managing them efficiently in classroom
- Contribute to extra-curricular activities programs and participate in school activities such as assemblies, evening events, conferences
- Maintain constant awareness of needs of any children to whom English is another language
- Mentor and train staff on using educational platforms (ie Class Dojo) to increase parent communication and involvement.
Middle & High School Special Education Teacher
Kingsborough Early College Secondary School
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Work with students individually and in groups to promote full academic functioning
- Integrate interactive technology into classroom
- Collaborate with students, parents, special education teachers, para educators, support services staff, and administration to help students prepare to become independently functioning adults
- Teach students to advocate for themselves as they move toward academic, social, and career goals
- Differentiate and adapt curriculum material for students enrolled in ICT setting in 6th and 8th-grade science and 9th-grade ELA
- Mentor middle school student council by overseeing ideas and helping with planning of school-wide events and projects
- Communicate with student body promoting participation in development of yearbook
- Mentor yearbook staff overseeing ideas and helping editors make final decisions.
Special Education Teacher
Sheepshead Bay High School
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Adapt high school curriculum to teach Basic Skills English, Basic Skills Mathematics, Basic Skills Science, and Basic Skills Social Studies to students with Intellectual Disabilities
- Develop adapt curriculum testing materials, implement, and compile datafolios for New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA)
- Administer computer-based New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) for English Language Arts and Mathematics
- Work with students individually and in groups to promote full academic functioning
- Collaborate with students, parents, special education teachers, para educators, support services staff, and administration to help students prepare to become independently functioning adults
- Differentiate and adapt curriculum material for students enrolled in ICT and Self-Contained settings in English, Spanish, and Global Studies
- Create Curriculum for Spanish 1 and 2
- Communicate with student body promoting participation in development of yearbook
- Mentor yearbook staff overseeing ideas and helping editors make final decisions
- Work as Liberty Partnership Program counselor at Sheepshead Bay High School to teach students strategies and multiple ways to master core skills for high school graduation, college, and career readiness.
Preschool Teacher
Salam Academy
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Teaching students through structured play while incorporating research-based strategies
- Abiding by all local regulations as well as safety protocols
- Developing curriculum that focused on student interest and all major developmental areas: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social
- Motivating and stimulating children's learning and social abilities by working with each student from special needs to gifted - helping them reach individual goals and successes
- Assess developmental needs of students and cater for them
- Maintain progress records of children and communicate same to parents
- Maintain healthy and safe environment for students and staff
- Effectively collaborate with colleagues and administration
- Enhance physical, social, emotional, and intellectual competence.
Education
Masters of Science in Education With A Bilingual Extension - Special Education
The City College of New York
New York, NY01.2013
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Minor in International Studies - undefined
University of Washington
Seattle, WA01.2008
Skills
- Fluent in both written and spoken Spanish
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Literary & Writing instruction
- Parent-teacher collaboration
- Individualized Learning
- Student assessments & evaluations
- Team Collaboration
- IEP familiarity
- Problem-solving skills
- Teaching strategies
- Organizational ability
- Lesson Plan Implementation & Lesson Planning
- Curriculum Implementation
- Classroom Management
Certification
- Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist, Professional Certificate, 05/03/2018, 08/31/2023
- Bilingual Education Extension, Professional Extension Annotation, 05/03/2018, 08/31/2023
- Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Test Administrator Certificate (Computer-Based New York State Alternate Assessment)
- ESC Region 13 Texas Reading Academies; TRA ESC R13 ESC 10A June 2022 ELAR Blended EOBY3 (60 hours of Continuing Professional Education Credit) - May 2023
Volunteer Experience
Educational Consultant, AYA Animations Inc., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2019, 2021, Undertake proper research and provide recommendations on curriculum and materials for the show Yusuf and Aya, Advising on the curriculum development and use of material and equipment, Develop instructional materials that are to be used by instructors and educators, Update the current curriculum after a certain period to ensure that the students are technologically current and lessons follow current best practices
References
Provided upon request
Timeline
First Grade & 7th Grade ELA Teacher, Coach/Mentor Teacher
Austin Peace Academy
08.2023 - Current
Second Grade Teacher
Austin Achieve Elementary School
01.2021 - Current
IB PYP First Grade Teacher
Advanced Learning Schools
01.2018 - 01.2020
Middle & High School Special Education Teacher
Kingsborough Early College Secondary School
01.2016 - 01.2018
Special Education Teacher
Sheepshead Bay High School
01.2011 - 01.2016
Preschool Teacher
Salam Academy
01.2008 - 01.2011
Masters of Science in Education With A Bilingual Extension - Special Education
The City College of New York
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Minor in International Studies - undefined
University of Washington
- Students With Disabilities - Grades 7-12 - Generalist, Professional Certificate, 05/03/2018, 08/31/2023
- Bilingual Education Extension, Professional Extension Annotation, 05/03/2018, 08/31/2023
- Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Test Administrator Certificate (Computer-Based New York State Alternate Assessment)
- ESC Region 13 Texas Reading Academies; TRA ESC R13 ESC 10A June 2022 ELAR Blended EOBY3 (60 hours of Continuing Professional Education Credit) - May 2023
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