Kellie Tu
West Des Moines
Summary
Instructional leader with a collaborative approach to education. Dedicated to student well-being and achievement. Committed to development of teachers, instructional strategies, and best practices.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
associate principal
Des Moines Public Schools-Edmunds Elementary
07.2023 - Current
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness utilizing the GLEAM framework.
- Fostered a positive learning environment by promoting open communication among staff, students, and parents.
- Led school improvement efforts by setting clear expectations for staff performance and providing regular feedback on progress towards goals.
- Addressed discipline issues promptly while maintaining fairness; sustaining positive relationships among faculty members.
- Cultivated partnerships with community members and organizations to provide additional resources, mentor opportunities, and real world application opportunities for students. These opportunities include our PAWS Mentoring program and our collaboration with Des Moines Medical University students with their Doctor's in a Bag program.
- Defined and enforced student academic achievement standards in line with district goals and objectives.
- Facilitated professional learning communities, encouraging collaboration and shared best practices among faculty.
- Communicated with parents to encourage active parental participation in education. Facilitated parent forums focused on celebrating bilingualism and the part families' cultures and languages can positively impact their children's education.
TLC Instructional Coach-Literacy
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.2022 - Current
- Applied Science of Reading training within Professional Learning Communities, K-5th, to identify instructional strategies and best practices which align with Science of Reading research
- Coached teachers to improve practices through professional development and modeling instructional strategies
- Met diverse student population needs by planning and implementing lessons with wide variety of teaching strategies
- Analyzed student data, diagnosed instructional needs, and identified research-based instructional strategies
Be Glad Summer Academy Site Administrator
Des Moines Public Schools-Hillis Elementary
01.2022 - 08.2022
- Coordinated student enrollment, transportation, food and nutrition, schedules, and communication for over 70 students
- Collaborated with Bilingual Family Liaisons and district partners to ensure 100% of our newcomers and 61% of our Multilingual Learners were able to attend Be GLAD Summer Academy
- Supervised, monitored, and coached over 10 employees
- Collaborated with district partners in hiring teachers
- Acted in supporting role to district partners during training of over 40 teachers in Be Glad strategies
TLC Instructional Coach
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.2015 - 07.2022
- Served on committee with district partners to develop and provide Schools for Rigor professional development
- Met diverse student population needs by collaboratively planning and implementing lessons with wide variety of teaching strategies
- Modeled literacy, math, and writing lessons for daily or weekly instruction
Instructional Coach and 3rd Grade Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.2013 - 07.2015
- Balanced classroom teaching and instructional coach responsibilities
- Opened my classroom for modeling instructional practices
- Developed and provided professional development for staff
- Took advantage of this unique opportunity to utilize and model professional development strategies in my own classroom
- Planned lessons with teaching partner according to district standards to cover requirements, prepare for standardized tests, and implement best instructional practice
- Built positive relationships with parents to involve families in educational process
5th Grade, 3rd Grade Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.1998 - 07.2013
- Taught 3rd Grade for nine years, followed by 5th Grade for seven years
- Team taught with special education teachers to provide push in model for diverse learners
- Featured on The Today Show for annual Cookie Caucus, in which team of 5th Grade teachers and students provided opportunity for student body to participate in simulation of Iowa Caucus'
Special Education Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools
08.1997 - 07.1998
- Balanced two different instructional approaches
- One placement was self-contained setting and one placement was collaborative/push in setting
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies
- Cultivated relationships with colleagues at two different buildings
Preschool Lead Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools- Cowles Early Childhood Center
08.1996 - 07.1997
- Provided open and loving environment while utilizing Reggio Emilia approach
- This educational philosophy focuses on self-guided approaches to instill students' love of learning
- Cultivated relationships with parents and guardians to ensure positive student outcomes
Education
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Drake University
Des Moines, IA08.2023
Master of Arts - Education
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI07.2008
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Central College
Pella, IA05.1996
Skills
- Instructional Leadership
- Collaborative Approach
- Instructional Coaching
- GLEAM Framework
- CSTAG Trained
- Family and Community Focused
- Coordinating Volunteers
- Adult Learning Principles
Trainingandprofessionaldevelopment
- Science of Reading Training, 2022-2023, Professional development provided to literacy coaches around the research and instructional practices anchored in the Science of Reading.
- Be GLAD Training, Summer 2022, Professional development focused in the area of language acquisition and literacy.
- EL Education 2022 National Conference, Winter 2022, Conference to strengthen support for the whole child and celebrate remarkable student achievement across three dimensions (Mastery of academic skills and content, High-Quality work, Character).
- UnboundEd Standards Institute, Summer 2022, Professional learning workshop designed to focus on the intersection of standards, content, aligned curriculum and equity.
- Schools for Rigor, 2018-2020, Served on a district team dedicated to developing professional development to schools implementing Schools for Rigor.
- Project Task, 2019-2020, District supported training regarding best instructional and developmentally appropriate strategies in the area of mathematics.
- Orton-Gillingham Comprehensive Training, Summer 2018, A multi-sensory reading methodology which utilized explicit instruction to teach the structure of the English language.
- RTI at Work, 2018, Our team analyzed our current RTI structure and created an action plan for updating our building's RTI process.
- New Teacher Center Training, 2014-15, Developed and honed coaching language and techniques.
- Cognitively Guided Instruction, Years 1-3, Trained 2010-11, Implementation of problem solving through a student-centered approach using higher order thinking.
Timeline
associate principal
Des Moines Public Schools-Edmunds Elementary
07.2023 - Current
TLC Instructional Coach-Literacy
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.2022 - Current
Be Glad Summer Academy Site Administrator
Des Moines Public Schools-Hillis Elementary
01.2022 - 08.2022
TLC Instructional Coach
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.2015 - 07.2022
Instructional Coach and 3rd Grade Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.2013 - 07.2015
5th Grade, 3rd Grade Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools- Hillis Elementary
08.1998 - 07.2013
Special Education Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools
08.1997 - 07.1998
Preschool Lead Teacher
Des Moines Public Schools- Cowles Early Childhood Center
08.1996 - 07.1997
Master of Arts - Education
Viterbo University
Bachelor of Arts - Education
Central College
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Drake University
Similar Profiles
SHANNON GROTHSHANNON GROTH
Elementary Classroom Teacher at Des Moines Public Schools, Samuelson Elementary SchoolElementary Classroom Teacher at Des Moines Public Schools, Samuelson Elementary School
Korey HauensteinKorey Hauenstein
Teacher at Des Moines Public Schools, Samuelson Elementary SchoolTeacher at Des Moines Public Schools, Samuelson Elementary School
Darcy HankensonDarcy Hankenson
Elementary School Library Associate at Des Moines Public Schools - Hubbell ElementaryElementary School Library Associate at Des Moines Public Schools - Hubbell Elementary