Karen Ruecker
Lynnfield,USA
Summary
Creative and effective teacher with valuable experience in classroom administration, professional development and project planning.
Extensive background in diverse educational environments.
Student-centric instructor, academic facilitator and motivational coach. Competent at performing independently or as a member of teaching team.
Fulfill professional teaching goals by creating a positive learning atmosphere for all students to develop as learners, and collaborating with teachers in a mentoring role in order to increase student engagement and student achievement.
Founding member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team at Northeast.
Energetic and motivated educator with extensive knowledge in various subjects across the humanities.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
English as a Second Language Teacher / History, Advanced Placement US History
Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School
2018.08 - Current
- Teach English as a Second Language and U.S History, including Advanced Placement US History
- Also served as Academic-Vocational Instructional Coach.
- Advised school administration on selection of appropriate ESL resources and materials for use in classroom setting.
- Collaborated with teachers and department heads to share best practices and meet yearly educational goals.
- Established strong rapport with students, parents, and fellow educators, fostering positive relationships within school community.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in second-language education, enhancing teaching effectiveness.
World Language Department Chair
North Andover Public Schools
2013.09 - 2018.06
- Coordinated World Language department, taught German, French, and ESL, and collaborated with colleagues on curriculum development and assessment design.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Conducted evaluations to measure performance and progress of students, providing guidance for areas requiring improvement.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
German/French/ESL Teacher
North Andover Public Schools
2008.09 - 2018.06
- Taught German, French, and ESL at North Andover High School
- Organized and led yearly student exchange program with sister high school, Helmholtz Gymnasium in Bonn, Germany
- Developed welcoming classroom environment that encouraged cultural exchange between students from diverse backgrounds, fostering mutual understanding and respect among classmates.
- Contributed to district-wide professional development initiatives by leading workshops on best practices for teaching world language learners across different grade levels.
- Organized extracurricular activities like language clubs and field trips related to course content in order to reinforce learning objectives outside of classroom setting.
German Teacher
Higgins Middle School
2006.09 - 2008.06
- Taught German to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students using differentiated instruction and thematic units
- Also instructed special education classes and integrated middle and high school language programs.
Group Fitness Instructor
Burbank YMCA
2000.05 - 2006.08
- Designed and taught pre-post natal exercise program, as well as guided special populations in group fitness, including children and seniors.
Operations Manager
Prudential-Bache Securities
1992.04 - 1995.09
- Managed Operations Department of international securities trading firm, including client services, financial record balancing, and trade processing.
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
Mutual Fund Accountant/Euroclear Administrator
State Street Bank
1989.09 - 1992.03
- Maintained global mutual fund accounts, communicated with client and custodial banks, and processed foreign exchange transactions.
- Maintained accurate transaction processing record.
Education
Master of Arts - History
Salem State University
Salem, MA12.2024
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership -
Salem State University
Salem05.2016
Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language -
Salem State University
Salem, MA05.2009
Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and German -
University of Maine
Orono, ME05.1988
German Language Studies Program -
Universität Salzburg
Salzburg, AustriaGerman language program -
Universität Regensburg
Regensburg, GermanySkills
- Student Engagement
- Subject matter expertise
- Relationship building and management
- Growth Mindset
- Curriculum Development & Implementation
- Project-based learning
- Fluent in German, Proficient in French
Certification
- Massachusetts Administrator, Principal/Assistant Principal, 9-12, 08/2017
- Massachusetts Professional English as a Second Language, 04/2023
- Massachusetts Professional Foreign Language 5-12 German License, 08/2017
- Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement; Teacher & Administrator, 09/2016
- Massachusetts Professional History, pending May 2024
Research For Advanced Graduate Study Degree
- Massachusetts Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership May 2016
- Increasing Written Proficiency in English Language Learners with Targeted Academic Vocabulary Instruction
- Teacher Leadership Proposals for Improved Family and Community Engagement in English Learner Populations
- Language Teacher Observation and Mentorship Program
- Instructional Leadership Findings, Feedback and Recommendations for Language Acquisition
Educational Awards And Presentations
- Goethe Institut Chicago - Europäische Akademie Otzenhausen, Germany June 2015; Teacher Professional Development Study Tour to learn about incorporating themes of environmental protection and sustainability in German language instruction. Presented this collaborative work in a webinar sponsored by the Goethe Institut Chicago in January 2016.
- AATG American Association of Teachers of German - Universität Leipzig June 2016
- Secondary / Post Secondary Professional Development Study Tour continuing research and curriculum development of STEM / Language Acquisition. Additional presentation of this research and continuing work to the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association in October 2017.
Professional Teaching Experience
- English as a Second Language Teacher / U.S. History, Advanced Placement US History, Academic-Vocational Instructional Coach, 08/2018 - present, Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School, Wakefield, MA
- World Language Department Chair, 09/2013 - 06/2018, North Andover Public Schools
- German/French/ESL Teacher, 09/2008 - 06/2018, North Andover Public Schools
- German Teacher, 09/2006 - 06/2008, Higgins Middle School, Peabody Public Schools, Peabody, MA
- Substitute German Teacher, Spring 2006, Melrose Public Schools, Melrose, MA
Prior Professional Work Experience
- Group Fitness Instructor, 05/2000 - 08/2006, Burbank YMCA, Reading, MA
- Operations Manager, 04/1992 - 09/1995, Prudential-Bache Securities, Munich, Germany
- Mutual Fund Accountant/Euroclear Administrator, 09/1989 - 03/1992, State Street Bank, Quincy, MA, New York, N.Y., Munich, Germany
Timeline
English as a Second Language Teacher / History, Advanced Placement US History
Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School
2018.08 - Current
World Language Department Chair
North Andover Public Schools
2013.09 - 2018.06
German/French/ESL Teacher
North Andover Public Schools
2008.09 - 2018.06
German Teacher
Higgins Middle School
2006.09 - 2008.06
Group Fitness Instructor
Burbank YMCA
2000.05 - 2006.08
Operations Manager
Prudential-Bache Securities
1992.04 - 1995.09
Mutual Fund Accountant/Euroclear Administrator
State Street Bank
1989.09 - 1992.03
Master of Arts - History
Salem State University
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership -
Salem State University
Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language -
Salem State University
Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and German -
University of Maine
German Language Studies Program -
Universität Salzburg
German language program -
Universität Regensburg
- Massachusetts Administrator, Principal/Assistant Principal, 9-12, 08/2017
- Massachusetts Professional English as a Second Language, 04/2023
- Massachusetts Professional Foreign Language 5-12 German License, 08/2017
- Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement; Teacher & Administrator, 09/2016
- Massachusetts Professional History, pending May 2024
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