Karen Tootle Walea
Garden City
Summary
Dynamic leader and adept communicator with a proven track record at Groves High School, enhancing student success and engagement through strategic planning and cross-functional coordination. Excelled in organizing memorable graduation ceremonies and fostering inclusive education, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills and problem-solving abilities. Achieved significant improvements in departmental operations and student satisfaction.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduation Coordinator
SCCPSS District Graduation Coordinator Team
08.2006 - Current
- To provide a blueprint for the SCCPSS graduation ceremonies as well as answer many of the questions that arise during a school’s preparation for its commencement exercises.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge on evolving graduation requirements and policies, ensuring accurate guidance was provided to all parties involved in the process.
- Enhanced student engagement during commencement week by organizing memorable activities and events that fostered school spirit and camaraderie among graduating class members.
- Optimized commencement ceremony logistics through detailed planning and coordination with various departments, resulting in a seamless event experience for graduates and attendees.
- Established positive relationships with key stakeholders such as faculty, staff, administrators, students, parents, alumni, vendors, and community partners to support successful graduation initiatives and ceremonies.
- Improved communication between students, faculty, and administrators, serving as a liaison to ensure timely resolution of issues related to graduation requirements.
- Increased student satisfaction with commencement ceremonies by coordinating meaningful events that celebrated their achievements.
- Supervised a team of assistants responsible for managing various aspects of commencement planning, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and on time.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members during the 12 SCCPSS graduation ceremonies at the end of the school year.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
Special Education Self Contained Teacher
SCCPSS / Groves High School
01.1994 - Current
- Assessed student progress regularly through formative and summative assessments, adjusting instructional strategies as needed.
- Increased parent involvement through regular communication, fostering a strong partnership between home and school for student success.
- Implemented behavior management strategies, resulting in a positive classroom environment conducive to learning.
- Provided support for special needs students through appropriate accommodations and modifications in lesson plans and assessments.
- Participated in professional development opportunities, continuously seeking ways to refine teaching techniques and stay current on educational trends.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers, and administrative staff.
- Taught core subjects and elective based classed for the intellectually disabled adaptive curriculum.
- Coached, mentored and evaluated student teachers for progress against program objectives.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Increased educational expertise and knowledge by participating in instructor-oriented workshops.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest through creative hands-on activities.
- Completed student progress reports mid-term to notify students and parents of strengths and areas of improvement.
- Shifted between formal and informal methods of teaching to keep students engaged.
- Participated in department meetings to provide input to colleagues about student achievement and improvement.
- Created lessons and online testing materials to facilitate remote learning.
- Established a positive classroom environment through effective classroom management strategies, fostering respect and cooperation among students.
- Evaluated and assessed student progress regularly, providing constructive feedback and adapting teaching methods accordingly.
- Communicated effectively with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication regarding student progress and addressing concerns as needed.
- Utilized data-driven instruction techniques to analyze student performance trends and adjust teaching methods accordingly for optimal results.
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social, and emotional growth.
- Collaborated with fellow teachers to develop interdisciplinary lesson plans, enhancing students'' understanding of various subjects.
- Improved student comprehension by utilizing differentiated instruction techniques customized for diverse learning needs.
- Promoted a growth mindset in the classroom by encouraging students to set goals, embrace challenges, and persevere through obstacles.
- Helped students explore concepts with engaging, learning-focused activities.
- Organized extracurricular activities such as field trips and special events, enriching the educational experience for all students involved.
- Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
- Reinforced positive behavior by encouraging efforts through affirmation statements and praising accomplishments.
- Mentored new teachers within the school community by sharing knowledge, providing guidance on instructional strategies, and offering ongoing support during their transition into the profession.
- Worked with staff members and teachers to design comprehensive and individualized plans to optimize student education.
- Maintained student portfolios to monitor learning progress and completion of work required for promotion to next grade level.
- Served as a liaison between the school administration and families during parent-teacher conferences, ensuring clear communication about expectations and areas of improvement for each child.
- Met with students, parents and administrators to address and resolve students' behavioral and academic issues.
- Scheduled conferences with parents to discuss students' progress and classroom behavior.
- Served as a liaison between the school administration and the community, advocating for resources and support necessary for successful teaching initiatives and student success.
- Improved student comprehension by utilizing differentiated instruction methods and tailoring lessons to individual needs.
- Maintained accurate records of student performance, using data-driven decision-making to inform future instruction.
- Developed strong relationships with students, providing mentorship and guidance for personal growth and academic achievement.
- Organized extracurricular clubs or events related to the subject matter, enhancing the overall learning experience for students.
- Facilitated parent-teacher conferences to discuss student progress and strategies for improvement.
- Organized school-wide events that emphasized cultural diversity and inclusion, enriching school community.
- Developed and executed thematic units, fostering cohesive and immersive learning environment.
- Improved parental involvement through regular newsletters and updates on classroom activities and student achievements.
- Cultivated positive classroom atmosphere, implementing behavior management techniques.
- Coordinated with special education team to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with special needs.
- Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varied needs and interests, promoting inclusive education.
- Adapted teaching methods and materials to meet students' varying needs.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
Special Education Department Head
Groves High School
08.1997 - 08.2003
- Maintained organized inventory with accurate records through proper ordering, tracking and auditing procedures.
- Maintained positive special education teacher's relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Enforced organizational rules and incorporated policy changes into departments' day-to-day activities.
- Served as a liaison between the department and other divisions within the school system, facilitating strong working relationships that contributed to successful projects.
- Managed department budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources for maximum impact on student engagement and sucess..
- Promoted a positive work environment by fostering teamwork, open communication, and recognition of accomplishments among employees.
- Developed strong interdepartmental relationships to improve communication and collaboration across the organization.
- Implemented strong control and evaluation procedures to maximize departments' work quality.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Established team priorities, maintained teacher and student schedules, and monitored performance.
- Recruited, interviewed, and hired employees and implemented a mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Managed efficient workflows by creating effective schedules and delegating work based on personnel strengths and knowledge.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Maintained a professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy parents and students.
Education
M.ED. - School Counseling
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 08-1997
B.S. Ed. - Exceptional Child
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA12-1993
Skills
- Detail-oriented
- Cross-functional coordination
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Time management
- Multitasking Abilities
- Reliability
- Team collaboration
- Organizational skills
- Excellent communication
2002 Groves High School Teacher of the Year
The faculty and staff from Groves High School nominated me as the 2002 Groves High School's Teacher of the Year. Being nominated as Groves High School Teacher of the Year, I was also a candidate for the State of Georgia 2002 Teacher of the Year program.
2002 and 2009 Groves High School Teacher of the Year
My coworkers nominated me as the 2002 and the 2009 Groves High School Teacher of the Year. The teacher of the year position was a leadership position within my school and the community. I was the liaison between Groves High School and the SCCPSS superintendent. It was a platform where I was able to bring forward educational issues. I was able to showcase teachers as positive role models, encourage children to consider teaching as a profession, and give the community a sense of pride by getting the public involved in becoming community partners with Groves High School.
Timeline
Graduation Coordinator
SCCPSS District Graduation Coordinator Team
08.2006 - Current
Special Education Department Head
Groves High School
08.1997 - 08.2003
Special Education Self Contained Teacher
SCCPSS / Groves High School
01.1994 - Current
M.ED. - School Counseling
Georgia Southern University
B.S. Ed. - Exceptional Child
Georgia Southern University
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