Joshua Rooney
Essex Junction,Vermont
Summary
Equity centered, trauma informed and restorative based teacher brings 9 years experience supporting students with extensively diverse profiles achieve success in school and on their own terms. Equitable and collaborative classrooms, creative and engaging lessons and a deep understanding of how to engage all learners have been the cornerstones of my success.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Social Studies Teacher
Champlain Valley Union High School
Hinesburg, VT
08.2023 - Current
- Teach Economics, Psychology and Current Events to 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders, as well as Advisory.
- Collaborate with students to develop inclusive, trauma informed classroom management practices.
- Implement differentiated methods of assessment and instruction into units and daily lessons.
- Maintain awareness of relevant current events and quickly incorporated study into curriculum.
- Practice high level proficiency based instruction consistent with best practices aligned with CVU's standards of instruction.
- Establish and communicate clear objectives for all educational activities
- Connect closely with students to identify and develop educational goals connected to their hopes, dreams and values.
- Utilized "Habits of Learning" to support student growth and engagement
Restorative Practices Coordinator
Champlain Valley Union High School
Hinesburg, VT
07.2022 - Current
- Created and implemented Restorative Justice intervention system in collaboration with administrative leadership team.
- Work closely with administrators, Title IX Coordinator, DEI Coordinators, faculty, staff and families to address BHH situations using restorative justice framework.
- Co-lead weekly professional development sessions to shift school culture in equitable, inclusive and restorative way.
- Built network of relationships to support ongoing implementation of Restorative Practices within Equitable Practices framework at CVU.
- Provided coaching to CVU faculty and staff in using equity centered, trauma informed Tier 1 interventions.
- Provided equitable and trauma informed interventions to students in need of conflict resolution.
- Track student work and progress regarding incidents referred to Restorative Practices.
- Follow up with students and families to determine if interventions have been successful.
- Better than 90% success rate in resolving referrals using Restorative Practices.
Senior Teacher
Centerpoint School
Winooski & South Burlington, VT
09.2015 - 11.2020
- Provided intensive instruction to students in alternative therapeutic day school setting for students with high level of need for whom other options have not been effective.
- Taught students with complex educational and mental health profiles in a variety of classroom settings, including place based education and internships.
- Taught students in 1:1, small and large group instructional environments.
- Developed proficiency based learning experiences and classes to fit coursework developed in collaboration with students and Academic Director.
- Used authoritative and strengths based approaches in all interactions with students, embodying “unconditional positive regard with a conditional response.”
- Centered work with students on identifying their goals and creating pathways to achieve them, aligning their interests with their academic and therapeutic needs.
- Collaborated intensively with colleagues to increase understanding of student capacity, skill and motivation to maximize each student's success at school.
- As Senior Teacher, mentored other teachers in daily practice, onboarded new teachers and acted as a “culture carrier” within school.
Teacher
Shader Croft School
Burlington, VT
06.2015 - 08.2015
- Collaborated with team of four teachers to plan all instruction and daily schedules for 15 5th - 8th grade students and embed math and literacy skills in daily activities.
- Role as “Trip Planner:” assisted each student in connecting with community members around areas of student interest to create and lead field trips for all students.
- Supported each student to develop methods for achieving short and long term SMART goals.
- Instructed students on how to make contact, create and maintain positive relationships with members of community who could support their goals.
Student Teacher
Teacher Apprentice Program, Champlain College
Champlain Valley Union High School, VT
08.2014 - 04.2015
- Completed practica in English and Social Studies.
- Planned and differentiated units and lessons using Understanding by Design method and proficiency based methodology.
- Developed and implemented lessons and assessments to be inclusive of learning styles and student profiles.
- Consulted with Special Educators to differentiate and scaffold lessons for students with special needs
- Taught courses in US History, World History, English Composition, Writing Prose, Dramatic Literature and Ancient Greece.
- Solo teaching units: World War I, Crusades and Mongols, Ethics, Plato & The Republic.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Comparative Religion, Theater
05.1996
- Completed AP course in Economics
- Relevant Coursework: Equity Leadership & DEI
- Relevant Coursework: Ethnicity & Diversity in the US
- Professional Development: Restorative Practices, Trauma Informed Education,
- Study Abroad: The Netherlands, Theater
Acting
Economics, Geography, Education
Teacher Apprenticeship Program - High School Teaching
Skills
- Restorative Practices
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Trauma Informed Education
- Special education, specializing in students classified at "Emotionally Disturbed"
- Differentiated Instruction
- Discussion Facilitation
- IEP Understanding
- Student Engagement
- Faculty Collaboration
- Project-Based Learning
Certification
VT Level II Endorsement 2-15 (Social Studies, 7-12), HQT. Educator ID: 8055450
International Institute of Restorative Practices, Certified Trainer, Restorative Practices in Education
Accomplishments
- Equitable Practices Team, CVUHS, 2022-2024
- Restorative Practices/Social Emotional Learning Committee Lead, CVUHS 2022-2024
- Presenter, “Using Dungeons & Dragons in the Classroom” Dynamic Landscapes Conference, May 2019
- Workshop Leader, “Choose Your Own Adventure,” Centerpoint Summer Program, 2016, 2018-2020
- After School Groups: Chorus, Dungeons and Dragons 2015- 2019, Centerpoint School, Winooski, VT
- Citizen Debate Judge, 2011-2019
- Instructor, Professional Development, “Multiple Intelligence Theory," Centerpoint School
- Organizing Team, EdCamp VT 2017 - 2019
Centerpoint School, Winooski, VT
Timeline
Social Studies Teacher - Champlain Valley Union High School
08.2023 - Current
Restorative Practices Coordinator - Champlain Valley Union High School
07.2022 - Current
Senior Teacher - Centerpoint School
09.2015 - 11.2020
Teacher - Shader Croft School
06.2015 - 08.2015
Student Teacher - Teacher Apprentice Program, Champlain College
08.2014 - 04.2015
University of Vermont - Bachelor of Arts, Comparative Religion, Theater
Emerson College - , Acting
Portland State University - , Economics, Geography, Education
Champlain College - Teacher Apprenticeship Program, High School Teaching