Jemma Benton
Alexandria,VA
Summary
Dedicated and student-centered educator with over 5 years of experience in instructional leadership, tutoring, student engagement, and educational operations. Proven success supporting diverse learners, including neurodivergent students, through differentiated instruction, individualized academic support, and inclusive educational practices. Skilled in curriculum support, program development, family partnership building, and educational administration. Passionate about fostering positive learning environments that promote confidence, academic growth, and student success.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Director & Learning Specialist
Poissant Place
Alexandria, VA
12.2023 - Current
- Plays a key leadership role in the growth and day-to-day operations of a thriving microschool serving neurodivergent students. Oversees student enrollment, creates onboarding materials, and facilitates community partnerships. Leads hiring and onboarding processes including conducting interviews, screening candidates, and creating comprehensive employee manuals. Contributes to marketing efforts by supporting website design and updates to ensure accuracy and relevance.
- Dedicated and student-focused Learning Specialist experienced in supporting diverse learners through both push-in classroom support and pull-out specialized instruction. Skilled in implementing individualized interventions, analyzing and interpreting Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and developing targeted strategies to support academic, behavioral, and social-emotional growth. Collaborates closely with teachers, families, and ABA behavioral support teams to align educational and behavioral goals, ensure consistency across learning environments, and promote student success. Passionate about creating inclusive, supportive, and data-informed learning experiences that meet the unique needs of every student.
- Specific Accomplishment: Contributed to enrollment growth from 4 to 11 students within 9 months by spearheading marketing initiatives, managing social media outreach, coordinating open house events, and personally guiding prospective family tours.
- Specific Accomplishment: Developed core administrative systems including the academic calendar, custom report card templates, and parent information packets.
Director of Operations & Tutor
Reading With Raegan
03.2023 - Current
- Leads intake for new clients and coordinates matches with desired teachers. Responds to phone and email inquiries and schedules meetings with potential clients, utilizing strong interpersonal skills. Manages invoicing, billing, and payroll for employees and clients. Formulated a series of marketing campaigns including print and social media advertisement material to increase collaboration with organizations, leading to partnerships with several private/public schools
- Select Accomplishments: Grew client base by 25% in first 3 months of hire, recruited 3 new employees
- Select Accomplishments: Created and implemented a system to track and analyze monthly income and expenses utilizing strong data entry skills
- Select Accomplishments: Supported students in improving literacy confidence, engagement, and academic performance through individualized instruction. Brought multiple students from below grade level to above grade level over the course of one academic year.
2nd Grade Teacher
Stoddert Elementary School
Washington, DC
01.2020 - 01.2025
- Responsible for developing and executing rigorous and differentiated plans to increase student understanding and learning. Collaborated heavily with ELL and SPED teachers to support a large population of special education students and international students. Maintained strong working relationships with parents and various community members. Planned and executed several successful events with outside organizations, families, and staff.
- Select Accomplishments: Established and led 2 new organizations and committees which led to an increase in student, staff, and community participation and encouraged culturally-aware gatherings
- Select Accomplishments: Proven track record of student achievement growth. Noted 19 out of 22 students increased a grade level in one year or ended the year above grade level in both math and reading standardized metrics
Education
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin12-2019
Skills
- Time-Management
- Classroom & Behavioral Support
- Flexibility
- Strong organizational skills
- Collaborative
- Detail-oriented
- Problem-solver
- Multi-tasker
- Event-Planning
- Adobe Suite
- Beginning Spanish Skills
- Leadership skills
- Differentiated Instruction
- Technical aptitude
- Student & Family Engagement
- Continual Learner
- Curriculum Planning
Certification
- Early Childhood Pre-K - 3 Standard Teaching License, Virginia
- Special Ed. General Curriculum K-12
Timeline
Assistant Director & Learning Specialist
Poissant Place
12.2023 - Current
Director of Operations & Tutor
Reading With Raegan
03.2023 - Current
2nd Grade Teacher
Stoddert Elementary School
01.2020 - 01.2025
Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And Elementary Education
University of Wisconsin