KATRINA W. TOWNS
Albany,GA
Summary
Accomplished English educator and instructional leader with 26 years of experience in secondary and adult education. Expertise in curriculum design, differentiated instruction, and technology integration. Led initiatives to support diverse learners, enhance engagement, and strengthen school culture through effective coaching and program coordination.
Overview
1
1
Certification
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
English Language Arts Teacher / Instructional Leader
Dougherty County School System
Albany, Georgia
01.2013 - Current
- 9-12 Grade English Language Arts/Literature & Composition, including Honors, using standards-aligned instruction, differentiated supports, formative assessment, writing instruction, and targeted intervention.
- AP English Literature and AP English Language Composition; trained through the College Board and experienced in Honors and Gifted instruction.
- Use assessment data, Lexile information, student work, and progress monitoring to identify learning needs, set goals, provide feedback, and improve student outcomes.
- Developed curriculum, instructional resources, assessments, and student-centered lessons; collaborated on curriculum-writing teams for eight years to enhance instructional quality.
- Maintained effective communication with families, colleagues, and administrators while managing records, conferences, and academic plans to support student success.
- Served in multiple school leadership roles, including Head Tennis Coach and faculty advisor, to foster student engagement and community involvement.
- Managed classroom routines and behavior to maintain focused, productive learning environment.
- Integrated literacy strategies to strengthen comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and composition skills.
- Differentiated instruction to support diverse learners, including struggling readers and advanced students.
- Designed standards-based language arts lessons aligned with district curriculum and state benchmarks.
Lead Adult Education Instructor / Learning Center Manager
Albany Technical College
Albany, Georgia
01.2000 - 01.2013
- Supervised adult education instruction in literacy, GED preparation, academic skills, and tailored programs of study to meet learner goals.
- Managed learning-center operations, student records, standardized assessments, and recruitment efforts to enhance student retention and instructional quality.
- Facilitated individualized goal setting, academic coaching, and progress monitoring to improve learner persistence and completion rates.
- Delivered adult basic education instruction aligned with GED, literacy, and workforce readiness standards.
- Collaborated with staff to coordinate support services and strengthen student success.
- Guided learners through career readiness, test preparation, and academic goal setting.
- Conducted skills assessments to uncover performance gaps.
- Cultivate partnerships with vocational training companies when advocating for refugee placements.
- Leveraged community resources to support student success by connecting participants with relevant services, such as workforce development programs or personal enrichment opportunities.
- Fostered a positive and inclusive learning environment by addressing individual student concerns and promoting open communication.
- Consistently received positive evaluations from students and supervisors, reflecting a commitment to excellence in adult education instruction.
- Helped supervisor establish and monitor individual and program objectives.
- Organized workshops for community members on relevant topics, expanding educational outreach efforts beyond the classroom setting.
- Collaborated with fellow instructors to share best practices and continuously improve the quality of adult education programs.
- Maintained accurate records of student attendance, progress, and performance for reporting purposes as well as identifying areas for improvement.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current with industry trends and maintain expertise in adult education methodologies.
Director of Communications & Research / Volunteer Coordinator / Office Manager
Sanford Bishop for Congress
Albany, Georgia
06.2000 - 10.2000
- Directed integrated communications strategy across media, messaging, and public outreach initiatives.
- Developed press releases, speeches, talking points, and briefing materials for campaign leadership.
- Managed media relations, responding to inquiries and coordinating interviews with press outlets.
- Prepared rapid-response messaging for emerging issues, debates, and community concerns.
- Negotiated partnerships with event organizers to secure strategic speaking opportunities for company leaders, strengthening industry credibility.
- Optimized email marketing campaigns for improved open rates, click-throughs, and conversions.
- Developed communications strategies to drive forward progress in public relations.
- Built and maintained relationships with key clinicians, spokespeople, advocates and opinion leaders.
- Executed comprehensive marketing plans that consistently achieved targets for increased revenue.
- Oversaw preparation of marketing copy, images, videos, emails, and other collateral.
- Participated actively in group meetings, promoting open dialogue on project progress and potential improvements.
Sales & Customer Service
Victoria’s Secret
Albany, Georgia
04.1996 - 02.2000
- Provided ongoing support to sales and customer service teams by addressing technical queries and offering guidance on best practices in flexographic printing.
- Collaborated with sales and customer service departments to resolve billing discrepancies, fostering strong interdepartmental relationships.
- Streamlined order fulfillment processes by coordinating with sales and customer service teams to ensure accurate and timely delivery of products.
- Liaised effectively with sales and customer service departments to coordinate efforts for maximizing revenue collection while maintaining client satisfaction.
Advertising Sales
The Albany Herald
Albany, Georgia
07.1998 - 08.1999
- Collaborated closely with advertising sales teams to maximize revenue through strategic placement of commercials and promotional spots.
- Increased advertising sales revenue by establishing strong client relationships and effectively presenting marketing solutions.
Sales & Customer Service
JCPenney Corporation
Albany, Georgia
10.1995 - 04.1996
- Gained experience in customer service, retail sales, advertising sales, client relations, product presentation, and relationship-building in fast-paced service environments.
- Collaborated with sales and customer service teams to address shipment issues promptly and effectively.
- Consistently met or exceeded performance metrics, earning recognition for outstanding achievements in sales and customer service.
- Collaborated with sales and customer service departments to resolve complex billing issues, improving client satisfaction rates.
Education
Master of Arts - Curriculum & Instruction / Adult Education
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona01-2008
Bachelor of Arts - English
Albany State University
Albany, Georgia01-1998
Some College (No Degree) - Public Relations
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia01-1993
Skills
- Curriculum & Instruction
- Secondary ELA
- AP English Literature & Language
- Gifted Education
- Differentiation
- Data-Driven Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Student Intervention
- Adult Education
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Office
- EdTech Integration
- Event coordination
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Licensed in Georgia
- Verbal and written communication
- Collaborative learning
Accomplishments
- 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year Finalist.
- Adult Education Teacher of the Year, Albany Technical College (2011); Rick Perkins Teacher of the Year Finalist (2011).
- Recognized for the highest number of GED graduates at Albany Technical College, 2007–2012.
- Charter Member, University of Georgia Arch Society; former member of the University of Georgia Recruitment Team.
- Head Tennis Coach (boys and girls); Region Tennis Secretary; Sources of Strength faculty advisor; sports operations and event coordination experience across multiple athletic programs.
Certification
Georgia Certified Teacher, English Language Arts 6–12, Gifted Certified Teacher, College Board Training: AP English Literature & AP English Language, Apple Certified Teacher, Blackboard / Learning Management Systems, Ongoing Georgia DOE, DCSS, and Technical College System professional learning
Personal Information
Title: EDUCATOR | INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER | CURRICULUM & STUDENT SUCCESS
Timeline
English Language Arts Teacher / Instructional Leader
Dougherty County School System
01.2013 - Current
Director of Communications & Research / Volunteer Coordinator / Office Manager
Sanford Bishop for Congress
06.2000 - 10.2000
Lead Adult Education Instructor / Learning Center Manager
Albany Technical College
01.2000 - 01.2013
Advertising Sales
The Albany Herald
07.1998 - 08.1999
Sales & Customer Service
Victoria’s Secret
04.1996 - 02.2000
Sales & Customer Service
JCPenney Corporation
10.1995 - 04.1996
Bachelor of Arts - English
Albany State University
Master of Arts - Curriculum & Instruction / Adult Education
University of Phoenix
Some College (No Degree) - Public Relations
The University of Georgia