Kristen Festa
Shelton,CT
Summary
Highly qualified, enthusiastic, and dedicated professional educator with 20 years of experience as a reading consultant and 7 years as a classroom teacher. Strong ability to work with students and individualize instruction in order to meet the needs of all learners. Experienced with tiered interventions and setting student's expectations high along with instilling a positive growth mindset in order to gain student success. Highly capable of working with teachers, administrators, and families to increase student's academic achievement.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Reading Consultant
Shelton Public Schools
Shelton , CT
2004.06 - Current
- Developed strategies to assist teachers in introducing new curriculum.
- Work with students in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
- Implement structured literacy instruction such as Orton Gillingham to Tier 2 and Tier 3 students in order to show student success.
- Progress monitor weekly or bi-weekly for all Tier 2 and 3 students in order to monitor growth and change goals.
- Completed professional training courses to maintain current knowledge about reading and reading instruction.
- Analyze student data and prescribe remediation and enrichment to meet learning needs.
- Partnered with parents to maintain open communication, advise on available resources and build parental abilities necessary for student support.
- Co-teach lessons with teachers to help assist with current curriculum.
- Oversee the Academic Support Center which assists students in tier 2 and 3 interventions.
- School Coordinator for the Smarter Balance Testing.
- Design parent literacy nights to incorporate parents in their students learning.
- Provide Professional Development for various literacy initiatives.
- Assist in weekly data team meetings in order to discuss student progress and make recommendations for referrals.
- Work with school Leadership Team on student growth and whole school initiatives.
- Discuss student growth and areas of need with parents during parent-teacher conferences.
- Attend PPT's to provide data on tiered intervention students.
First Grade Teacher
Mill Hill School
Fairfield , CT
1999.08 - 2004.06
- Taught students subject-specific material, learning strategies and social skills.
- Established and communicated clear learning objectives to foster student progress and academic performance.
- Instructed students individually and in groups using varied teaching methods.
- Maintained safe, clean and organized classroom environment.
- Improved student engagement by implementing student-centered classroom management techniques to foster academic curiosity.
- Offered hands-on learning opportunities to develop student self-esteem and life skills.
Second Grade Teacher
Driscoll School
Wilton , CT
1998.08 - 1999.06
- Taught students subject-specific material, learning strategies and social skills.
- Involved parents in student education by cultivating strong relationships.
- Instructed students individually and in groups using varied teaching methods.
- Maintained positive classroom culture through behavior management techniques.
- Formed deep relationships with parents and students by engaging groups through conferences, emails, texts and phone calls.
- Created collaborative environment in classroom where students worked together to support everyone's learning.
Third Grade Teacher
Driscoll School
Wilton , CT
1997.08 - 1998.06
- Worked with school administrators to develop classroom management policies for grade level.
- Maintained safe, clean and organized classroom environment.
- Built relationships with students and guardians through active communication and positive feedback.
- Embraced teaching children of diverse educational, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
- Instructed students individually and in groups using varied teaching methods.
- Cultivated classroom environment focused on inclusion and growth, fostering both social and academic development.
- Developed lesson plans and facilitated instruction to all educate students.
- Prepared, administered and graded daily work and tests to evaluate student's progress.
Education
Masters - Reading
Southern Connecticut State University
Fairfield, CT05.1999
Sixth Year Degree - Reading Consultant Certification
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT05.1999
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA05.1996
Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Teacher Collaboration and Co-teaching
- Reliable & Trustworthy
- Relationship Building
- Attended ReadConn K-3 Reading Skills Professional Development Series
- Trained in PBIS
- Began Training in Restorative Practice
- Google Classroom
- Team Teaching
- Individualized Learning Plans
- Differentiated Instruction
- PMT Trained
- Orton Gillingham Trained
- Ruler Trained
- PBIS Trained
- Utilize CORE Phonics Assessment
- NWEA, Aimsweb, IXL, Lexia Reading, Heggerty, Fundations, DIBELS trained
- Leadership Team
- Writing Literacy Curriculum
Certification
- Connecticut State Professional Certification (K-6)
- Reading and Language Arts Specialist (102)
- Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097)
Timeline
Reading Consultant
Shelton Public Schools
2004.06 - Current
First Grade Teacher
Mill Hill School
1999.08 - 2004.06
Second Grade Teacher
Driscoll School
1998.08 - 1999.06
Third Grade Teacher
Driscoll School
1997.08 - 1998.06
Masters - Reading
Southern Connecticut State University
Sixth Year Degree - Reading Consultant Certification
Southern Connecticut State University
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education
Elizabethtown College
- Connecticut State Professional Certification (K-6)
- Reading and Language Arts Specialist (102)
- Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097)
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