Kristen Aquilina
Certified Elementary And Early Childhood Education Teacher( B-6) & Certified Literacy Specialist (B-12)
33 Elm Pl, Lancaster,NY
Summary
My passion for teaching is a direct result of my love for children, and my natural ability to connect with young learners. My many years as both a daycare and a school teacher have highlighted my ability to see children as unique individual learners who deserve a safe, nurturing, and stimulating classroom environment in which they can grow intellectually, socially, and cognitively to reach their highest potential. It is my goal as an educator to create a classroom environment that allows every student to thrive, learn, and grow everyday they are present. I also believe that when the teacher's role is to guide, providing access to information, rather than acting as the primary source of information; the students' search for knowledge is met as they learn to find answers to their own questions. I have always tried to make every classroom I've worked be a supportive and caring classroom community; in which individual learners are celebrated for their distinctive skill sets, and individual learning styles are met within the group lessons through scaffolded instruction. As an educator, I want to help create life-long learners who understand that knowledge is power, and that their capabilities are limitless.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certificates
Work History
Full Time Building Based Substitute Teacher
Lancaster Central School District (John A. Sciole)
Lancaster, NY
09.2022 - Current
- Uphold classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Follow classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Take over class for regular classroom teacher, managing assignments, student needs and recordkeeping.
- Keep students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Organize lesson plans using teaching software for long-term interim assignments.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
- Diversify classroom instruction and group activities to successfully support students with unique strengths and learning styles.
- Study changing regional curriculums to maintain knowledge of lesson plans for short- and long-term substitute positions.
- Working at Sciole has taught me the joy of working within a consistent school community and collaborating with an incredible team of educators and leaders. I am surrounded by passionate educators who inspire my creative and have reignited my love and passion for teaching
Per Diem Substitute Teacher
Lancaster Central School District
Lancaster, NY
09.2013 - 06.2022
- Followed classroom plans left by class teacher to continue student education and reinforce core concepts.
- Upheld classroom routines to support student environments and maintain consistent schedules.
- Leveraged classroom discussion strategies to engage students, promote topics and boost learning opportunities.
- Administered and graded tests and quizzes and reported performance to primary teacher.
- Kept accurate and current attendance records and assignment sheets to maintain file compliance.
- Collaborated with teaching staff to implement coordinated educational strategies and student support networks.
- Repeatedly requested as substitute teacher by teachers based on excellent past referrals and trusted performance.
- Acquired an extreme amount of flexibility, adaptability and classroom management skills
Head Preschool Teacher
Brierwood Childcare Center (Lancaster Location)
Lancaster, NY
01.2011 - 09.2013
- Assisted and supervised 23 children through entire school day.
- Maintained organized, fun and interactive classroom to help children feel safe.
- Established positive communication with parents in daily conversation and formal conferences.
- Developed curriculum to advance physical, emotional, social and cognitive growth of children.
- Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans.
- Allowed for ample outdoor discovery time in schedule each day.
- Addressed behavioral and learning issues with parents and daycare management.
- Identified signs of emotional and developmental problems in children and reported to parents.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Educated students in foundational concepts such as shapes, numbers and letters.
Childcare Assistant Teacher
Brierwood Childcare Center (Lancaster Location)
Lancaster, NY
09.2006 - 09.2010
- Implemented curriculum to enhance classes with learning-focused activities.
- Promoted sensory development by providing access to different textures.
- Monitored students' academic, social and emotional progress and recorded in individual files.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Engaged with children on individual basis to build positive relationships and promote learning.
- Communicated with parents through enrollment, tours, newsletters, conferences and direct personal communication.
- Consulted with parents to build and maintain positive support networks and support continuing education strategies.
- Maintained well-controlled classrooms by clearly outlining standards and reinforcing positive behaviors.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education & Early Childhood Education
SUNY Buffalo State
Buffalo, NY 09.2006 - 12.2010
Master of Science - Literacy Specialist B-12
University At Buffalo
Buffalo 09.2011 - 08.2013
Skills
Group and individual instruction
Accomplishments
- Completed extra training to further help students under care: Completed 50 hours of training in 'Anxiety in Children' from the Creative Teacher Institute (2021)
- Completed 50 hours of training and certification in 'Mindfulness and Meditation' in the classroom from the Mindfulness and Mediation NY Collaborative (2021)
Additional Information
Homeschool Teacher 2020-2021
- Took a break from Substitute teaching, to teach a group of Kindergarten students in the LCSD, including my own son during COVID
- Planned, executed and assessed my own Kindergarten curriculum and created interactive hands on lessons which utilized technology, manipulatives and an outdoor/indoor classroom concept
Stay at Home Parent December 2014-2022
- Remained a per diem substitute, rather than full-time, throughout these years because I was a stay at home mother
- Master multitasker
- Exceptional at teaching through play
- Being a passionate, active mother has allowed me to understand the importance of teacher-family communication, and have a deeper understanding and compassion for my students and their families as a teacher
Certification
NYS Elementary Certificate Reissued
Timeline
Full Time Building Based Substitute Teacher
Lancaster Central School District (John A. Sciole)
09.2022 - Current
NYS Literacy Specialist Certificate Reissued
06-2021
NYS Elementary Certificate Reissued
01-2021
Per Diem Substitute Teacher
Lancaster Central School District
09.2013 - 06.2022
Master of Science - Literacy Specialist B-12
University At Buffalo
09.2011 - 08.2013
Head Preschool Teacher
Brierwood Childcare Center (Lancaster Location)
01.2011 - 09.2013
Childcare Assistant Teacher
Brierwood Childcare Center (Lancaster Location)
09.2006 - 09.2010
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education & Early Childhood Education
SUNY Buffalo State
09.2006 - 12.2010
NYS Early Childhood Education Reissuance PENDING
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