Hi, I’m
LAKOTA SUMMER LEIJON
Brooklyn,NY
Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible.
Pearl Bailey
Summary
Highly skilled and passionate Social Emotional Learning Educator and leader with experience in creating and implementing comprehensive programs to enhance social emotional intelligence, skills and health. CORE QUALIFICATION Skilled in academic program development, faculty and staff management, and student engagement. Proven track record of achieving high academic standards, improving student assessment programs, and developing successful post-secondary support programs. Ability to analyze data, identify instructional priorities, and develop strategies for continued growth.
Overview
24
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
Coney Island Prep
Dean of Students
07.2021 - Current
Job overview
- Developed and implemented strategies and policies for effective classroom behavior management techniques based on that promote positive student engagement, resulting in 73%increase in classroom participation and performance
- Design and conduct monthly diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice-based training for staff, promoting culturally responsive school environment
- Established and managed effective advisory programming providing academic and social emotional learning support to students that increased student engagement and student-teacher relationships from 22% (SY 20-21) to 86% (SY 22-23)
- Introduced and applied Restorative Justice Practices and tiered behavior system, consequently leading to 60% reduction in discipline issues and elimination of out-of-school suspensions
- Facilitated psycho-educational groups rooted in arts ( dance, drama) to address students’ emotional needs
- Re-assessed and revamped weekly and quarterly student incentive program based CIP's school's PRIDE values, resulting in maintaining attendance at 92-95%.(SY 22-24)
- Led and collaborated with grade team leaders to assess teacher and student performance, providing operational support and abetting professional development opportunities to enhance academic success, leading to gains in ELA 20% and math 18% (SY 23-24)
- Organized individualized behavior improvement plans for students struggling with compliance.
- Helped teachers develop and diversify instruction to better serve students of different skill levels and backgrounds.
- Spearheaded training initiatives for teachers by leading classes on topics such as Project Based Learning (PBL), Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Roland Hayes Middle School
Community School Director
01.2015 - 07.2021
Job overview
- Develop and implement comprehensive needs-driven program menu, including expanded learning opportunities, health services, parent/family engagement, case management for students/families in temporary housing, adult education, and interventions targeted at chronically absent students to improve student attendance and parental/community engagement
- Collaborate with Roland Hayes Middle school principal to establish rigorous yet fair expectations for implementing Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) with performance goals and objectives aligned with school district benchmarks, resulting in meeting all targets between 2017- 2019 SY
- Utilized restorative practices (community circles, peer-to-peer mediation, youth court) to reduce disciplinary incidents by 48%, serving as advisor to principal for coordinating work of different partners within Roland Hayes Middle School and aligning their work with it's needs
- Develop and implement school-wide social-emotional learning and mindfulness-based advisory curriculum, resulting in 65% decrease in problematic student behaviors
- Lead weekly meetings with teachers to analyze data, define student needs, support lesson plan development, and openly discuss teacher progress, challenges, and deficits
- Developed and executed Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program that enhanced school climate, resulting in 30% increase in teacher satisfaction rates
- Organized and lead parent engagement workshops, including "Community School Breakfast" monthly event, coordinating local social service agencies to provide on-the-spot services such as immigration legal advice, SNAP benefits, and medical and mental health services, resulting in 85% increase in parental engagement, growth of the Parent Association to 125 members, and enrollment growth from under 200 students to 330, most significant student population growth in seven years.
- Organized and led team comprised of school leadership, teachers, staff, parents and other community members.
- Engaged school community in collaborative vision setting and assessments.
- Managed action plans, oversaw implementation of school community initiatives and monitored program quality.
- Monitored student progress and implemented intervention strategies to support student success.
- Trained teachers on effective teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, and behavior modification.
- Performed classroom evaluations to assess teacher strategies and effectiveness.
- Observed teachers, documented activities and implemented improvement plans to optimize classrooms.
Central City Academy
Youth Development Director
09.1999 - 01.2015
Job overview
- Developed and oversaw high-quality youth development programming for ages 6-18, aligning with Central City Academy's mission, vision, and goals, and ensuring program safety and inclusivity
- Trained and supervised staff in program planning, curriculum development, assessment, evaluation, mental health screening, referrals, counseling, team building, and teacher training
- Staff retention was steady between 87%-95% (2001, Manage and evaluate after-school and summer camp programming and staff, including oversight of program budget, expenditure reports, and receipts
- Conduct community needs assessments to identify problematic areas and develop School Improvement Plans (SIPs) to address academic, attendance, and behavioral issues which led to a 79% decrease in problematic behaviors, 56% increase in attendance across grades 6-12
- Re-imagined and led performing arts programming (dance, drama, poetry, creative writing) establishing volunteer artists in residency program that serviced 150 students
- Foster positive mentorship relationships with students, promoting self-esteem, community improvement, and respect for others, and coordinating community service projects and academic support initiatives to enhance student success.
- Provided specific learnings regarding teen pregnancy risk, gang membership and bullying.
- Experienced with popular office software used for data collection and developing reports.
- Developed and introduced cultural and ethnic diversity programs.
- Monitored program performance and outcomes for successful delivery of services.
- Researched best practices and developed strategies to improve program outcomes.
Education
North Central University
Doctoral Candidate from Social Emotional Learning
National University
Masters of Arts from Social Emotional Learning
University of Phoenix
Master of Science
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science from Psychology
Skills
- Academic program development
- Faculty and staff management
- Needs assessment and evaluation
- Professional development and facilitation
- Social Emotional Learning Theories
- Data analysis
- Instructional priorities
- Parental engagement
- School climate improvement
- Strategic planning
- Curriculum Development
- Student Development
- Behavioral Management
- Teaching
- Academic Intervention
- Mental Health
- Special Education
- Policy Development
- Character Education
- Crisis Intervention
- Classroom Management
- Disciplinary Procedures
- Staff Development
- Data Analysis
- Plan Institutional Strategies
Certification
Mental Health Coach Certification- Light University International Open Academy TESOL Certification Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner
CBT-Cognitive Behavior Therapy
New York State Peer Specialist
Certification- Intervention and Planning in K-12 Settings Engaged in Repeated Behavior Problems
Affiliations
National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)
Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA)
Brooklyn Children's Theatre (BCT)
Campaign For Female Education (CAMFED)
American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA)
Languages
French
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Elementary
Swedish
Limited Working
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Dean of Students
Coney Island Prep
07.2021 - Current
Community School Director
Roland Hayes Middle School
01.2015 - 07.2021
Youth Development Director
Central City Academy
09.1999 - 01.2015
North Central University
Doctoral Candidate from Social Emotional Learning
National University
Masters of Arts from Social Emotional Learning
University of Phoenix
Master of Science
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science from Psychology
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