Kelly Paraskevakos
York,PA
Summary
Student-centered instructor who has spent 30 years teaching secondary English, including all grades and levels. Current teaching load includes Honors English Seminar, American literature, and myths and legends. Wrote and piloted the Senior Teaching Assistant program working with seniors who are interested in a career in education. The students work with 1-2 teachers each day for the entire year while weekly classroom lessons focus on classroom management, building relationships, reaching out and working with other professionals, and current issues in education. In addition, as the Content Coordinator for the English Department, responsible for managing the modernization of the high school English curriculum.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
English Teacher
York Suburban School District
08.2001 - Current
- Focused on student learning by implementing new concepts, instructional strategies, and educational ideas into classroom environments
- Increased student motivation by providing timely feedback and recognizing individual achievements.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date on teaching best practices and enhance educator skills.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics.
- Designed and implemented assessments to measure student progress in English language learning.
- Created and implemented activities to foster critical thinking skills of students.
- Designed and facilitated group projects to foster teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- Developed strong relationships with parents and guardians, fostering open communication regarding student progress and needs.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learner needs, ensuring all students had equal access to education opportunities.
- Improved classroom management by implementing consistent routines and clear expectations for behavior.
- Assessed student progress and provided feedback to improve performance and establish academic success.
- Worked with aides to provide one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
- Prepared comprehensive English curriculum for multiple classes.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary curriculum, resulting in enriched learning experiences for students.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Promoted positive learning environment by modeling respect, empathy, and active listening skills during all interactions with students.
- Mentored new teachers within department, sharing best practices and offering guidance on effective teaching methods.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to remain current on educational trends and research-based strategies for instruction.
- Planned dynamic lessons to increase student comprehension of books and literary concepts.
- Attended department meetings to develop and update course curricula.
- Utilized data-driven instruction to identify areas of need and implement targeted strategies for improvement.
- Produced engaging lesson plans and activities to help students master learning objectives.
- Encouraged students to take active role in learning and academic success.
- Established and maintained professional relationships with students, staff, parents and community members.
- Built variety of formative and summative assessments to measure student progress.
- Promoted culture of inclusion, respect and collaboration in classroom.
- Supported development of individualized education plans for students with special needs.
- Served as advisor for extracurricular clubs and organizations, including National Honor Society and Novel-Tea Club
English Teacher
Southern York County School District
08.1998 - 06.2021
- Assisted in constructing, implementing, evaluating and revising curriculum
- Developed innovative lesson plans to engage students in English language learning.
- Increased student motivation by providing timely, constructive feedback and requiring corrections for continual growth.
- Utilized multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways.
- Participated in professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date on teaching best practices and enhance educator skills.
- Prepared and implemented lesson plans covering required course topics, including genre studies, American literature, and world literature
- Assisted in creating safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Created and implemented activities to foster critical thinking skills of students.
- Enhanced learning experiences by incorporating specialized tools and resources tailored to needs of special education students.
- Improved classroom management by implementing consistent routines and clear expectations for behavior.
- Promoted positive learning environment by modeling respect, empathy, and active listening skills during all interactions with students.
- Led interesting and diverse group activities to engage students in course material.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to remain current on educational trends and research-based strategies for instruction.
- Attended department meetings to develop and update course curricula.
- Produced engaging lesson plans and activities to help students master learning objectives.
- Established and maintained professional relationships with students, staff, parents and community members.
- Built variety of formative and summative assessments to measure student progress.
- Promoted culture of inclusion, respect and collaboration in classroom.
- Served as advisor for Student Council and girls' junior varsity soccer
Secondary English and Reading Teacher
Lincoln School Department
07.1994 - 07.1997
- Assisted in creating safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Implemented reading and studying skills lessons for two classes of seventh grade students.
- Promoted love of reading and literacy to all students.
- Co-taught with special education teacher to assure support for students with learning disabilities
- Developed strong relationships with students, creating positive learning environment that encouraged active participation and growth.
- Served as mentor for new teachers, providing guidance on effective teaching strategies and classroom management techniques.
- Promoted critical thinking skills through use of higher-level questioning techniques during class discussions and written assignments.
- Monitored student performance to evaluate effectiveness of instructional strategies.
- Helped students with special needs integrate into general classroom environments by advocating for individual requirements and helping teachers solve problems.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress and attendance.
- Differentiated instruction for diverse learners, providing tailored support for individual student needs and objectives.
- Fostered positive classroom environment by establishing consistent routines and clear expectations, promoting mutual respect among students.
- Contributed to positive school culture by participating in committee work and collaborating with other departments on school-wide initiatives.
- Provided constructive feedback on student work through regular assessments and one-on-one conferences, helping guide their academic growth.
- Served as mentor for new teachers, providing guidance on lesson planning, instructional strategies, and classroom management techniques.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively through proactive strategies such as setting clear expectations and consequences for misconduct while also reinforcing positive behaviors.
- Served as advisor for extracurricular clubs and organizations, including Drama Club, school newspaper, and yearbook
Education
Ed.D - Educational Leadership: Curriculum And Instruction
Wilkes University
Wilkes-barre, PA05.2023
Master of Arts - English Language And Literature
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA05.2001
Bachelor of Arts - English
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA05.1992
Skills
- Curriculum Development & Implementation
- Discussion facilitation
- Technology Integration
- Student Engagement
- Mixed Teaching Styles: Lecturing, small and large group activities
- Literary and text Analysis
- SMARTClassroom Technology
- Google Classroom
- Teacher Collaboration
- Excellent Communication
Affiliations
- National Council of Teachers of English (NEA), Member 1997-Present
- Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, Member
- Keystone Testing Work with PDE and DRC
Timeline
English Teacher
York Suburban School District
08.2001 - Current
English Teacher
Southern York County School District
08.1998 - 06.2021
Secondary English and Reading Teacher
Lincoln School Department
07.1994 - 07.1997
Ed.D - Educational Leadership: Curriculum And Instruction
Wilkes University
Master of Arts - English Language And Literature
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts - English
Worcester State University
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