Laura Hottel
Fayetteville,NC
Summary
Dynamic educator with 26 years of educational licensure with a counseling background who demonstrates excellence in English, collaboration, communication, relationship building, group management, curriculum expertise, and organizational skills. Committed to creating a supportive environment that reaches individuals and meets their current needs.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Middle School Teacher
Cumberland County Schools
Fayetteville, NC
06.2017 - Current
- Facilitate learning and citizenship skills to strengthen students' personal and academic growth
- Utilize multimedia strategies and technology to convey information in fresh and interesting ways
- Cultivate successful and positive relationships with parents to provide complete support for their students
- Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, and visits by guest speakers
- Identify signs of emotional, academic, and developmental concerns in students
- Assist Forensic Team as speaking coach to 6th-8th grade students to include serving as competition judge for local and State events
- Fulfill yearly in-service training to maintain professional growth
- Establish positive rapport with parents through home calls and emails
- Assess student comprehension through regular quizzes, tests and assignments
- Create daily lesson plans designed to motivate students and allow for creativity
- Collaborate with Student Services Team on behavioral and academic concerns to support needs of students
- Provide positive and consistent classroom environments that are focused on learning by establishing and enforcing clear objectives
- Equip students with positive means of communication with one another through implementation of weekly Social-Emotional Learning activities (Second Step, Positivity Project)
- Foster and maintain positive learning environment where students feel included and safe
- Currently serving on MTSS Committee, ensuring that students with academic and behavioral concerns are served appropriately under State and Federal Guidelines
- Currently serving on School Improvement Team by providing support with school's School Improvement Plan, implementing required policies and programs, addressing concerns from staff, and effectively communicating with other team members as well as faculty and staff both on and off team
- Selected by Cumberland County through private contract to lead teacher training sessions to support teacher growth and mastery in County's ELA department for both 6th and 7th grades
- Chosen by Cumberland County through private contract to further support testing development with County's benchmark testing system
- Served on textbook adoption committee for entire secondary education program for Cumberland County
- Achieved certification in North Carolina's Exceptional Children's Program to work with academically gifted students within State's guidelines
- Fulfilled duties as ELA Chairwoman for 7th grade by ensuring curriculum stayed in alignment with NC Standard Course of Study
Independent Consultant for Rodan and Fields
Rodan And Fields
San Francisco, CA
01.2016 - Current
- Liaise with customers, management, and sales team to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions
- Establish confidential customer, business, and operational information practices
- Oversee team of 25 consultants, training members on effective strategies
- Communicate with over 200 customers to provide best solutions for their current needs while managing their personal purchasing accounts
- Guide training sessions for thousands of members, to include international populations, to provide customer-centered approaches in business
- Perform duties in accordance with established standards, policies, and regulatory guidelines to promote positive and compliant work environment
- Use critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions, and make decisions
- Develop team communications and information for meetings
Testing Curriculum Developer
NC State University
Raleigh, NC
03.2013 - Current
- Team with subject matter experts in revision of testing tools in order to continually improve evaluation platforms
- Develop benchmark testing material to support State of North Carolina's testing program (TOPS)
- Learn and apply new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity
- Prepare variety of different written communications to meet expected standards
- Designed State-wide standardized testing for 3rd-6th grades ELA with previous program, ClassScape (Center for Urban Affairs and Community Systems)
Elementary Teacher
Cumberland County Schools
Fayetteville and Eastover, NC
08.2004 - 06.2017
- Fostered meaningful relationships among students and parents through student centered activities inside and outside of classroom
- Communicated with parents to support child-centered learning
- Hosted Accelerated Reading nights quarterly to support parent involvement at the school and classroom level
- Developed and taught lessons relevant to children's books and poetry to promote student interest
- Increased students' Reading and Math test scores through classroom instruction, private tutoring, and detailed instruction
- Implemented in-school and after-school tutoring programs for low performing students, 3-5 grades
- Designed County-wide standardized testing for 3rd grade ELA.
- Contracted and collaborated with SmarterBalanced Consortium (McGraw-Hill) for 3rd-5th grades
- Trained in County-wide myTrack data base, and facilitated instruction to teachers on implementing student data bank
- Assisted media specialist with students' Battle of the Books competition team
- Met with parents to support educational priorities and to resolve issues
- Served on School Improvement Team (SIT) and revised policies to adhere to School Improvement Plan
- Co-chaired school's Safety Committee by addressing school's safety concerns, as well as by designing and implementing policies
- Collaborated with faculty to develop after-school tutorial program for students in need of additional support
Assistant Director, Child Development Center
US Army
Kitzingen, Germany
08.1997 - 03.1999
- Communicated openly with children's parents about daily activities and behaviors
- Published weekly newspaper with child behavior tips and family management support
- Completed child nutrition courses in overall nutrition, portion control, kitchen safety, and health
- Supported kitchen staff in preparing nutritious breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for children
- Oversaw daily office operations for staff of 30 employees
- Assisted Director in hiring and dismissal of staff
- Completed, maintained, and evaluated Center's logs and journals for safety, training, and accreditation through NAEYC
- Researched and educated staff and parents of child-related recalls and safety warnings
- Created weekly staff schedules within Center's budget as well as maintained safe and appropriate child to teacher ratios
- Maintained child-friendly environment with access to outdoor activities
- Encouraged favorable behaviors using positive reinforcement methods with children and educated parents on same
- Trained and developed department leaders and management staff for specific ongoing operational needs
Kindergarten Teacher
DODDS
Bad Kissingen, Germany
09.1996 - 06.1997
- Instructed Kindergarten aged children on mathematical and literary basics
- Improved students' relationships through integration of creative role-playing exercises
- Fostered meaningful relationships among students and parents through student field-trips
- Developed and taught lessons on relevant children's books and poetry to promote student interest
- Invited parent involvement and participation to increase student learning and success
- Managed daily classroom activities to promote learning and positive communication with school administration as well as parents
- Created child-centered learning environment characterized by consistent application of sound mental health and educational psychology practices
- Applied evidence-based practices for classroom management to enhance learning results
- Integrated outdoor education into lesson plans
- Exercised excellent classroom management focused on positive behavior support by clearly articulating fair and consistent expectations along with appropriate natural consequences
- Assessed comprehensive student growth across academic, social and personal skills
Education
Master of Human Relations (MHR) - Human Relations
University of Oklahoma
1999
Bachelor of Arts - English and Creative Writing
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA1995
Skills
- Managing group settings for diverse populations
- Expertise in English Language Arts
- Facilitator of positive learning environments
- Creative questioning
- Critical thinking
- Experience with instructional design
- Varied approaches in communicating
- Interpersonal skills
- Effective time management
- Curriculum development
- Problem-solving skills
- Organizational ability
Additional Information
- Successfully manage home environment, to include supporting family growth, success, and health
- Parent to three boys, to include adopted twin boys
- Extensive foreign and domestic travel, to include residing in Germany from 1996-1999
- Periodically requested to serve as guest speaker at women's conferences, locally and internationally (Canada)
- Provide community support through volunteering on PTA boards, skilled tutoring within the community, and advocating for church programs to encourage and promote healthy relationships among teen students
- Personal interest in United States History as well as natural history of the Earth
- Love of nature, pets, and Earth's environment
Timeline
Middle School Teacher
Cumberland County Schools
06.2017 - Current
Independent Consultant for Rodan and Fields
Rodan And Fields
01.2016 - Current
Testing Curriculum Developer
NC State University
03.2013 - Current
Elementary Teacher
Cumberland County Schools
08.2004 - 06.2017
Assistant Director, Child Development Center
US Army
08.1997 - 03.1999
Kindergarten Teacher
DODDS
09.1996 - 06.1997
Master of Human Relations (MHR) - Human Relations
University of Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts - English and Creative Writing
Sweet Briar College