Laura Roach
Mt. Pleasant,SC
Summary
Experienced Academic Dean skilled in leading academic programs and developing staff. Proven expertise in strategic planning, curriculum design, and program assessment. Strong track record of creating collaborative environments, implementing innovative educational initiatives, and driving student success. Previous roles resulted in notable improvements in faculty performance and student achievement. Most notable, my students grew 1.4 years in 8 months.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Academic Dean and Director of Student Services
Meeting Street Elementary - Burns
06.2023 - Current
- Subject Matter Expert
- Areas of primary responsibility: Intervention, Multilingual Learners, Daily/Weekly Professional Development, Team management & educator instructional coaching(45 employees), Human Resources, Onboarding/offboarding, Student achievement, Curriculum internalization, coaching and development, MTSS lead and support, PreK-6, Standards, planning, impact PLC leader, iReady leader, Read to Succeed Coordinator, Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Data-informed systemic planning, Science of Reading Certified and implementation leader, Lead the adoption of Lexia Core 5 and Lexia English, WIDA Assessment coordinator for ML students, CSI collaboration with state, district, and network stakeholders, eduCLIMBER lead for MTSS services
Academic Interventionist
Meeting Street Elementary - Burns
02.2022 - 06.2023
- Tier 1, 2, 3 Literacy Intervention, Orton Gillingham's Approach to Intervention, Core Phonics Instruction for Grades 2nd and 3rd, SCReady and SC Pass Administration, ELA support and collaboration for grades K-3, MAP Assessments, Analysis, and Planning, LETRS training and integration with daily instruction, Literacy data analysis to make instructional shifts to support all students and fill achievement gaps, General Instructional support
Implementation & Literacy Specialist-Contract
Scholastic
08.2021 - 09.2022
- Literacy Subject Matter Expert, Facilitate professional learning using adult learning methodologies to support best practices with the Science of Reading, Implementation Specialist, Deliver in-person and virtual professional learning and coach classroom teachers and coaches on balanced literacy practices and instructional strategies, Support classroom teachers in building content knowledge and understanding their role in the implementation process, Provide reflection questions and suggestions as part of the coaching cycle, Maintain the highest degree of expertise in literacy instruction and Scholastic product knowledge, Maintain professional relationships with districts, Cultivate and maintain relationships with team and partners
Professional Development Specialist-Contract/Per Diem
Catapult Learning
07.2021 - 09.2022
- Planned, created, and led professional development on instructional best practices based on current education research and instructional shifts, virtually and in person, Subject Matter Expert, On-site strategic planning for teachers, principals, and schools
Founding Director and Curriculum Coordinator
Ivybrook Academy
05.2020 - 07.2021
- Coordinated, supervised, and managed the school program, faculty, and operations, Licensing and future NAEYC Accreditation, Teacher recruitment, hiring, training, observations, evaluations, retention, and professional development, Mentor Teacher/Instructional Coach, Plan and implement an effective curriculum streamlined from 18 months to kindergarten, Reading Specialist/Interventionist, Partner with all Stakeholders to ensure academic achievement for all students, Assess all students(regularly)formally and informally to plan student interventions and extensions, Maintain student grades and records for student files and report cards using various technology platforms, Leader of the IEP/SST team
Vice Principal, 7th & 8th Grade Literature and Language Arts Teacher
St. Anselm School
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Leadership, coordination, supervision, and management of the school program, faculty, and operations, Worked with all Stakeholders to ensure academic achievement for all students, Disaggregated reading and math data to implement instructional planning and large-scale strategic planning, Served as a liaison/leader for various parent committees, Instructed teacher/staff in best practices using data-driven instruction to meet Literacy goals and standards for grades K-8, Lead our faculty in the WCEA/WASC school accreditation process, Served on the visiting WCEA/WASC accreditation team for sister schools, Planned, implemented, and taught all components of the curriculum, Assessed all students(regularly)formally and informally to plan student interventions and extensions, Maintained student grades and records for student files and report cards, IEP/MTSS team leader, Effectively incorporated STEAM curriculum into my classroom, Successfully integrated the Rotational Learning Model for Literacy, Coordinated K-5 in streamlining writing curriculum and rubrics, Coordinated Language Arts textbook adoption in 2018, Mentor Teacher/Instructional Coach, Found authentic and practical solutions for any situation as they arise, Meet with parents to support their children academically and emotionally, often managing sensitive situations and confidential information
First Grade Teacher
Miller Creek School District: Vallecito Elementary School
01.2015 - 01.2016
Private Reading & Literacy Specialist
01.2007 - 01.2016
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Miller Creek School District: Dixie Elementary School
01.2014 - 01.2015
First Grade Teacher
St. Hilary School
01.2011 - 01.2013
Kindergarten Teacher
St. Hilary School
01.2006 - 01.2011
Education
Ph.D. - Early Childhood Education: Teaching & Learning
Clemson University
true12-2024
Master's Degree - Teaching Reading
University of San Francisco
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
San Francisco State University
Skills
- Curriculum Design
- Common Core Standards
- Science of Reading-LETRS Certified
- School Accreditation
- Implementation services
- Preschool Licensing
- Educator PD
- Talent Management
- Literacy Assessment Design
- Strategic Planning
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Evidence-based Instruction
- Teaching Reading
- Educational policy
- Culturally Responsive Teaching
- STEM
- Adult Learning Theory
- Data Analysis/Leveraging Data
- Inquiry-based Learning
- Title 1 Schools
- Performance Assessment
- Enrollment Management
- Staff Development
- Excellent Communication
- Problem-solving abilities
- Database Administration
- Student assessment
- Team Collaboration
- Decision-Making
- Task Prioritization
Websites
Researchinterests
- Early childhood literacy development
- Artificial Intelligence for schools
- Vocabulary acquisition
- Literacy best practices
- Literacy shifts
- Experiential learning systems
- Pre-serving educator coaching and support
- Teacher preparation programs
- STEM
- Organizational and strategic planning
- Preschool programs
- Utilizing small groups in middle school to support differentiation
- Title 1 schools
- Asset-based planning
- Culturally-responsive teaching practices
- Achievement gaps in mathematical foundations
Certification
- Orton Gillingham Certified
- LETRS/Science of Reading Certified
- Teacher Certification, SC &CA
- Reading Specialist
- ESOL
- Instructional Leadership
Locations
Mount Pleasant, SC
Personal Information
Title: Doctoral Candidate, Teaching and Learning
Timeline
Academic Dean and Director of Student Services
Meeting Street Elementary - Burns
06.2023 - Current
Academic Interventionist
Meeting Street Elementary - Burns
02.2022 - 06.2023
Implementation & Literacy Specialist-Contract
Scholastic
08.2021 - 09.2022
Professional Development Specialist-Contract/Per Diem
Catapult Learning
07.2021 - 09.2022
Founding Director and Curriculum Coordinator
Ivybrook Academy
05.2020 - 07.2021
Vice Principal, 7th & 8th Grade Literature and Language Arts Teacher
St. Anselm School
01.2016 - 01.2020
First Grade Teacher
Miller Creek School District: Vallecito Elementary School
01.2015 - 01.2016
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Miller Creek School District: Dixie Elementary School
01.2014 - 01.2015
First Grade Teacher
St. Hilary School
01.2011 - 01.2013
Private Reading & Literacy Specialist
01.2007 - 01.2016
Kindergarten Teacher
St. Hilary School
01.2006 - 01.2011
Ph.D. - Early Childhood Education: Teaching & Learning
Clemson University
Master's Degree - Teaching Reading
University of San Francisco
Bachelor of Arts - Liberal Studies
San Francisco State University
- Orton Gillingham Certified
- LETRS/Science of Reading Certified
- Teacher Certification, SC &CA
- Reading Specialist
- ESOL
- Instructional Leadership
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