Katherine Maffei

Versatile, passionate, and dedicated teacher with a focus on individual student needs across academic and emotional settings. Highly qualified educator, certified & licensed in English (8-12) and Mild to Moderate Disabilities (5-12) with over 18 years of experience, committed to ensuring a supportive environment for all students and helping them develop & maintain goal-oriented habits for consistent personal and academic success. Coordinates well with classroom teachers, parents, specialists, and administrators with supportive strategies to meet the educational needs of students.

• 2020-Present: Department Representative, Social Emotional Learning Committee (co-chair from 2021-2023); Collaborate to foster a climate & culture conducive to learning (sense of belonging) and awareness & development of skills across the 5 SEL competencies (both adults and students) through programmatic selection, design, and delivery.
• 2020-Present: Organizer/Presenter to New Staff Orientation on Language Accessibility and District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP).
• 2020-Present: Core Participant, Student Success Team (SST); Collaborate to create practical, data-driven action plans to support students identified as having difficulty within the general education classroom setting; created NHS's SST Manual (2024).
• 2022-2023: Co-Facilitator, Attendance Committee; Collaborated to review and improve NHS attendance policies and practices; Piloted policy that was adopted as permanent policy for 2024-2025.
• 2019-2020: Organizer/Presenter, Passion Project on Language Accessibility, Workshop to create and publish the Language Accessibility Guidebook for Teachers; Led professional development (training and presenting) best practices to full faculty.
• 2019-2021, Department Representative, Gender Equity Committee; Raise awareness for issues of gender equity and develop action steps to improve gender equity at NHS for students and staff., Create professional development experiences and provide resources aimed at raising awareness for and increasing gender equity for staff at Needham High School.
• 2014-2019, Department Representative, Technology and Innovation Committee, Researched and advised on the 1-to-1 rollout at NHS, the Schoology Learning Management System (LMS) pilot, and professional development offerings around technology., Liaised between committee and English Department., Designed and facilitated professional development sessions on executive functioning (2017-2018) and tech tools for instruction and assessment (2016-2018).
• 2017, 2018, One Day Facilitator, NHS One Day, Co-developed and facilitated workshops on The Moth storytelling (2017) and Identity: "When and Why Who You Are Matters" (2018).
• 2014-2018, Mentor, Needham Steps Up to Excellence, Provided mentoring and educational support to bridge the opportunity gap for one student and make college a reality for her.