Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Teacher
Kimberly Zabel

Kimberly Zabel

Fond Du Lac,WI

Summary

Dedicated early childhood and special education teacher that seeks to utilize each child's unique characteristics and individual interests in order to optimize their greatest potential in the various learning areas. Successful at co-teaching with a team-mindset and strives to keep a positive communication balance between the teaching team, parents, and students. Uses the students' strengths in order to build an individualized learning plan that they also may find confidence and enjoyment in their education as they grow and develop their skills.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

Resource Teacher

St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran School
01.2025 - Current
  • Provided support for struggling students through targeted one-on-one instruction, improving overall class performance.
  • Facilitated differentiated instruction by providing a variety of resources tailored to meet each student's unique needs and abilities.
  • Assessed student progress regularly using formative and observational assessments, adjusting instructional strategies as needed for optimal learning outcomes.
  • Developed strong relationships with parents and guardians, fostering open communication about students' progress and needs.
  • Served as a mentor for teachers on staff, offering guidance on effective teaching practices and classroom management techniques as pertains to the needs of individual students.
  • Helped identify need for formal public school assessment, communicated and collaborated with classroom teachers, parents, and public school psychologists and Title teachers, and served on IEP teams throughout the Special Education assessment process.

Boys and Girls Club Elementary Tutor

Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac
10.2024 - Current
  • Developed strong rapport with students, fostering positive communication regarding progress and homework needs.
  • Supported students to set self-directed social emotional goals which support self-confidence in the area of academic success.
  • Boosted student confidence and academic performance through one-on-one tutoring sessions.
  • Assisted students in developing effective study habits and organizational skills for long-term academic success.
  • Empowered students by teaching them problem-solving techniques applicable across multiple subjects.
  • Utilized creative teaching methods to explain complex concepts in a clear and relatable manner.

Private Home Tutor

Self-employed
05.2024 - Current
  • Developed strong rapport with students and parents fostering a positive learning environment that encouraged open communication and trust.
  • Provided one-on-one support for students facing academic challenges, resulting in improved grades and increased confidence in their abilities.
  • Collaborated with students to complete homework assignments, identify lagging skills, and correct weaknesses.
  • Enhanced student engagement with interactive and hands-on activities, boosting overall class participation.
  • Increased student motivation by setting realistic goals and celebrating achievements, creating a sense of accomplishment in learners.

Infant/Toddler Childcare Lead Teacher

Jesus' Little Lambs Childcare Center
08.2020 - 03.2024
  • Supported and nurtured infants and toddlers in a Christ-like manner, encouraging them in their faith and teaching them about the love that their Savior has for them.
  • Worked side-by-side with other lead teachers and assistant teachers co-teaching and sharing roles and responsibilities in a team-oriented environment.
  • Included parents as part of the teaching team, encouraging them and supporting them in their important role as their child's primary teacher.
  • Incorporated best practice strategies including Child-directed learning, and Developmentally Appropriate Practices into individualized lesson plans for infants and toddlers.
  • Used the developmental check-points in the Portage Guide and Wisconsin State Early Early Learning standards to log weekly observations of the children's learning in order to create individualized goals and activities in the classroom.
  • Supported students' social-emotional development by creating a nurturing atmosphere and responding appropriately to the individual child's needs and communication signals.
  • Provided one-on-one unique support for children who needed extra encouragement in the various developmental areas.

Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher

Little Woodland Preschool
06.2019 - 08.2020
  • Fostered a natural home-like learning atmosphere through the use of the Reggio Emilia Early Childhood Philosophy.
  • Incorporated nature and the natural environment into as many parts of the childcare as possible; used wooden toys, natural arts and crafts materials, leaves, painting, sensory materials, rugs, lamps, plants, etc.
  • Encouraged messy hands-on learning as the children used flour, paint, water, mud, plastic shovels and pails to play and create their own projects.
  • Encouraged creativity and imagination while allowing children to explore the outdoor nature including grass, insects, trees, and observing squirrels, birds, and rabbits close up.
  • Developed an investigation-style learning curriculum that was centered around the class's individual interests.
  • Provided structured daily routines that balanced physical activity, cognitive development, social-emotional growth, and rest periods.
  • Worked closely with fellow teachers to share ideas, exchange feedback, and collaborate on curriculum planning efforts across classrooms.
  • Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
  • Maintained accurate records of children's developmental milestones and prepared detailed reports and project-based portfolios for parent-teacher conferences.
  • Established strong relationships with families, fostering trust and collaboration in supporting each child's development.

Lead Preschool Childcare Teacher

Zion Lutheran Childcare Center
07.2018 - 05.2019
  • Led the elementary-aged summer program. Created math, science, and art projects with an "around the world" theme.
  • Shared my love for Christ through Bible-stories, songs, and incorporating the Christian faith in the various academic lessons and teaching strategies when applicable.
  • Worked side-by-side with a co-teacher and shared teaching responsibilities and lesson planning.
  • Worked closely with parents to learn and understand the rural culture and incorporate it into the classroom.
  • Fostered the relationship and integration between the grade-school children and the childcare children during shared gym time and after-school care.
  • Worked one-on-one when needed with children with different abilities. Worked closely with Birth to Three as they shared specific teaching techniques to foster the development of children with Individualized Family Service Plans.

Summer Ministry Assistant Summer Preschool Teacher

WELS Kingdom Workers
06.2016 - 08.2016
  • Worked with other lead teachers to create a summer academic curriculum that incorporated Bible History, Science, Math, Art, Free play, and Music into the day.
  • Immersed myself into the Hollywood, CA culture and took the culture into consideration as I taught the summer preschool program.
  • Utilized and learned effective classroom management techniques in order to foster a learning environment for each of my students.
  • Used research-based teaching strategies as I fostered a positive learning environment in my classroom.
  • Conducted group classroom art and science projects to encourage my students' team-work skills to utilize creativity, imagination, and problem solving techniques within their projects.

Elementary School Tutor

St. Paul's Lutheran School
01.2016 - 05.2016
  • Partnered with lead teachers in order to support students academically during after-school tutoring sessions.
  • Created introduction relationship-building activities as a segway into the day's learning tasks.
  • Carefully chose practice work to help improve the base skills needed for specific academic subjects.
  • Worked one-on-one with students to help guide them through their homework and to help keep them on task.
  • Reported to the lead general education teachers regarding each day's tutoring session, the student's progress, and the student's continued needed support in specific areas.
  • Boosted student confidence through positive reinforcement and individualized support.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And K-12 Special Education

Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN
05.2018

Skills

  • Classroom Organization
  • Classroom Management
  • Collaborative and Team-Oriented
  • Parent-Teacher Communication
  • Documentation And Reporting
  • Observation-based Lesson Planning
  • Special Needs Support
  • Literacy development
  • Mathematics Instruction
  • Problem-Solving
  • Creative Thinking

Timeline

Resource Teacher

St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran School
01.2025 - Current

Boys and Girls Club Elementary Tutor

Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac
10.2024 - Current

Private Home Tutor

Self-employed
05.2024 - Current

Infant/Toddler Childcare Lead Teacher

Jesus' Little Lambs Childcare Center
08.2020 - 03.2024

Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher

Little Woodland Preschool
06.2019 - 08.2020

Lead Preschool Childcare Teacher

Zion Lutheran Childcare Center
07.2018 - 05.2019

Summer Ministry Assistant Summer Preschool Teacher

WELS Kingdom Workers
06.2016 - 08.2016

Elementary School Tutor

St. Paul's Lutheran School
01.2016 - 05.2016

Bachelor of Science - Early Childhood And K-12 Special Education

Martin Luther College

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Kimberly Zabel