Jessica Morales-Thomas
Ridgewood,NY
Summary
Passionate educator and leader who has offered 11 years of service to Achievement First with experience in planning and responding to needs of students from K-4. Familiar with student growth strategies and principles. Committed to helping students succeed in learning environments.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Academic Dean Grades 2-4
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
Brooklyn, NY
07.2020 - Current
- Owner of 2-4 Humanities teachers which responsibilities include: observations, coaching, and professional development of reading teachers.
- Owner of 2-4 STEP Data which includes: creating testing plans, follow-up on testing plan, own data reflection and creation of targeted learning groups based on data.
- Owner of 3-4 Crescendo plan in response to Mock Data to prepare for State Tests.
- Provides instructional resources and materials to support teaching staff in accomplishing instructional goals.
- Confer with teachers to identify current classroom concerns and diversify instructional strategies based on student need for intervention.
- Additional responsibilities include: creation of coverage plans, supporting teachers with coverage, l managing additional staff members due to leaves of absences.
- Prepared a variety of different written communications, reports and documents to ensure smooth operations
- Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity
Reading Interventionist- K-2
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary School
Ridgewood, NY
07.2019 - 07.2020
- Collaborated with teachers to assess needs, set objectives, and discuss strategies.
- Created positive and engaging environment in classroom that encouraged literacy skills.
- Implemented tracking tools to evaluate successes and areas in need of improvement.
- Interpreted student assessment data to ascertain best intervention methods for up to 40 students in K-2.
- Developed interventions for students currently struggling or at risk of falling behind.
- Enhanced knowledge by attending training (Orton Gillingham) and adopting new teaching practices.
- Contacted parents to discuss student progress and notify about class issues.
Grade Level Chair- 2nd Grade
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
Ridgewood, NY
07.2016 - 07.2020
- Responsible for maintaining high-functioning team culture that functioned within the context of the entire school.
- Ensure our team is driving towards excellent achievement and culture goals.
- Facilitated weekly, bi-weekly or monthly grade team meetings.
- Actively collaborated with deans to problem solve broken windows as an aligned team.
- Led data day sessions and some professional development when deans asked for support.
- Modeled productive relationships with staff, family members and students.
- Modeled strong classroom culture that was consistent with our beliefs on creating safe, loving and focused classroom environments.
Special Education Teacher- 2nd Grade
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
Ridgewood, NY
07.2016 - 07.2019
- Taught reading and writing in an ICT classroom.
- Conducted weekly meetings with co-teacher to make clear groups/plans for students who needed extra support.
- Modified general education curriculum for our exceptional learners using various instructional techniques.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and academic dean.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by creating individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement in Guided Reading.
- Implemented point/ reward system to encourage positive behavior.
Classroom Teacher-First Grade
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
Ridgewood, NY
07.2013 - 07.2016
- Instructed up to 30 students individually and in groups on Reading, Writing, Math, Phonics and Social Studies.
- Established a strong classroom culture,with the support of my co-teacher ,to drive social development and maintain positive interactions.
- Organized classroom supplies and decorated walls to create fun, nurturing settings and meet learning needs.
- Planned Reading (TRD), Social Studies and Guided Reading lesson plans to cover standards and support student learning.
- Built positive relationships with parents to involve families in educational process.
- Assessed student progress by administering tests and evaluating results.
- Chaperoned field trips to maintain safety and encourage learning.
Education
No Degree - Special Education Teaching Program
Relay Graduate School of Education
New York, NYMaster of Arts - General Education Teacher Grades 1-6
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY06.2012
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
Long Island University
Brooklyn, NY06.2004
Skills
- Dependable and Responsible
- Decision Making
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Effective at Creating Strong Relationships
Certification
Trained in the Orton Gillingham Approach to support students with dyslexia.
Timeline
Academic Dean Grades 2-4
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
07.2020 - Current
Reading Interventionist- K-2
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary School
07.2019 - 07.2020
Grade Level Chair- 2nd Grade
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
07.2016 - 07.2020
Special Education Teacher- 2nd Grade
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
07.2016 - 07.2019
Classroom Teacher-First Grade
Achievement First Bushwick Elementary
07.2013 - 07.2016
No Degree - Special Education Teaching Program
Relay Graduate School of Education
Master of Arts - General Education Teacher Grades 1-6
Brooklyn College
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
Long Island University