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
Creative problem solving
Organizational abilities
Differentiated instruction
Classroom management
Instructional technology
Lesson implementation
Student records management
Relationship building and management
Parent Communication
Adaptable
Safety awareness
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