Kara Cruz
Staten Island,NY
Summary
Dedicated Dean relocating to St. Louis in June 2024 with proven success in academic administration roles. Offers expertise in enhancing school climate through Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, resulting in significant student behavior improvement and staff professional development. Demonstrates exceptional planning and interpersonal skills in coordinating ELL programs and ensuring compliance.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Disciplinary Dean
Anning S. Prall-I.S. 27
Staten Island, NY
09.2022 - Current
- Managed student discipline across all middle school grades.
- Developed positive school climate and culture by collaborating with administration and teachers.
- Implemented Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) schoolwide to foster positive student behavior.
- Provided professional development for staff and monthly assemblies for students to ensure successful implementation of the PBIS system.
- Investigate discipline referrals/behavior infractions, result of investigation, and any assigned consequences after conferencing with Principal/Grade Assistant Principal, and communicate infractions, results of investigation, and any assigned consequences.
- Implemented Restorative Justice Practices: counseled students, conducted restorative circles, drafted re-entry protocols/plans for students, and facilitated meetings with students, parents, and teachers.
- Assist in planning, developing, and implementing individual student behavior plans and interventions.
- Member of the Crisis Response Team and Code Blue Team, ensuring safety and effective emergency response protocols.
E.L.L. Coordinator
Anning S. Prall- I.S. 27
Staten Island, NY
09.2008 - 06.2022
- Assisted in registering students and completed the ELL Identification Process, and administered assessments to determine ELL proficiency levels.
- Met and communicated with families in their native language to discuss ELL program placement and review assessment results.
- Programmed all ELLs based on their assessment levels for ENL services in alignment with their mandated minutes for stand-alone and integrated classes.
- Maintained state-required documentation for ELL compliance for audits conducted by the district.
- Completed and regularly updated state-mandated compliance documents (CEP, LAP, Title III).
- Developed schoolwide testing schedule for administering periodic and annual state assessments (NYSESLAT), and administered the exams.
- Conducted professional developments for ELL teachers and content area teachers for the district office and school staff.
- Collaboratively worked with content area teachers to adapt curriculum, differentiate instruction, and develop scaffolds to create language-rich instruction and critical thinking for all proficiency levels.
- Coordinated ENL remedial, test-prep, and enrichment afterschool and Saturday programs for ELL students in grades 6 through 8.
- Communicated rules, behavior expectations, and safety protocols to ensure students' full comprehension.
- Participated in faculty, professional, district-led educational training, and teacher training workshops to implement best practices within developed lessons.
- Member of the instructional support team, conducting informal observations of content area teachers to identify and implement school-wide best practices.
Second Grade Self-Contained ELL Teacher
Ruby G. Allen-P.S. 148
Queens, NY
09.2007 - 06.2008
- Instructed a self-contained ELL second-grade class.
- Trained in Teachers College curriculum and assessment tools.
- Implemented school-wide content curricula and differentiated lessons to provide grade-level, language-rich, engaging lessons to develop academic language and content knowledge.
- Developed informal assessments to differentiate lessons.
- Administered annual state assessments to ensure compliance and measure student progress.
Education
Administration and Leadership Certificate - School Building Leadership, School District Leader
The College of Saint Rose: CITE Program
Albany, NY01.2022
Master's Degree - T.E.S.O.L.
Touro College
New York, NY01.2008
Bachelor's Degree - Education: Science, Letters and Society
College of Staten Island
Staten Island, NY01.2007
Skills
- Academic goal advisement
- Academic plan development
- Academic administration knowledge
- Student retention
- Faculty Development
- Performance Assessment
Certification
- Missouri School Leader (K-12)- October 2024/NYS Administration: School Building Leader Initial Certificate-July 2022
- Missouri English Language Learners (ESOL) K-12- October 2024/ T.E.S.O.L./E.S.L. (K- 12) Professional Certification – February 2011
- Missouri Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)- October 2024/ Childhood Education (1-6) Professional Certification - February 2011
- NYS Administration School District Leader Permanent Certificate-July 2022
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Disciplinary Dean
Anning S. Prall-I.S. 27
09.2022 - Current
E.L.L. Coordinator
Anning S. Prall- I.S. 27
09.2008 - 06.2022
Second Grade Self-Contained ELL Teacher
Ruby G. Allen-P.S. 148
09.2007 - 06.2008
- Missouri School Leader (K-12)- October 2024/NYS Administration: School Building Leader Initial Certificate-July 2022
- Missouri English Language Learners (ESOL) K-12- October 2024/ T.E.S.O.L./E.S.L. (K- 12) Professional Certification – February 2011
- Missouri Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)- October 2024/ Childhood Education (1-6) Professional Certification - February 2011
- NYS Administration School District Leader Permanent Certificate-July 2022
Administration and Leadership Certificate - School Building Leadership, School District Leader
The College of Saint Rose: CITE Program
Master's Degree - T.E.S.O.L.
Touro College
Bachelor's Degree - Education: Science, Letters and Society
College of Staten Island
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