LAUREN HAWKS
La Vergne,TN
Summary
Dedicated instructional leader with over ten years of experience supporting teacher development, improving student achievement, and fostering collaborative school cultures. Skilled in instructional coaching, mentoring educators, facilitating professional learning, analyzing student and teacher data, and partnering with teachers to strengthen instructional practices. Recognized as Tennessee's 2022 Reading Teacher of the Year and committed to building educator capacity through relationship-driven coaching, continuous improvement, and servant leadership.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Building Level Mentor Lead
Mill Creek Elementary School
08.2023 - Current
- Coordinated and enhanced building-level mentoring program for newly hired teachers, fostering a supportive environment for their growth.
- Assigned mentor teachers to new educators considering grade level, experience, and professional strengths, ensuring effective mentorship pairing.
- Facilitated mentor and mentee meetings, delivering ongoing support and professional learning opportunities to enhance teaching practices.
- Provide personalized mentorship to beginning teachers as well as mentors.
Literacy & Instructional Coach
Mill Creek Elementary School
08.2023 - Current
- Serve as Literacy and Instructional Coach supporting K–5 teachers through coaching cycles, classroom observations, co-teaching, lesson planning, modeling, and reflective feedback.
- Coach approximately 25–30 teachers annually.
- Facilitate professional development aligned to district initiatives, literacy instruction, curriculum implementation, and school improvement goals.
- Led district professional development sessions on Wit & Wisdom curriculum implementation, Essential Standards, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and Summer School instructional practices.
- Analyze assessment data, progress monitoring data, and school-wide performance trends to identify instructional needs and develop targeted support plans.
- Support onboarding and development of new teachers through mentoring, coaching conversations, classroom support, and resource development.
Second Grade Teacher & Team Lead
Mill Creek Elementary School
08.2021 - 05.2023
- Served as Grade-Level Team Leader for a team of six educators, including 2 first-year teachers.
- Mentored new teachers by leading weekly collaborative planning meetings.
- Fostered a positive classroom environment to encourage student engagement and maximize learning.
Second Grade Teacher
Hillsboro Elem/Middle School
08.2020 - 05.2021
- Teacher of the Year, 2020–2021.
- PBIS Teacher Leader.
- Led implementation of a school-wide house system and supported school improvement efforts.
- Served as a teacher mentor to newly hired teachers.
Fourth Grade Teacher
Hillsboro Elem/Middle School
08.2016 - 05.2020
Kindergarten Teacher
Lenoir City Elementary School
08.2015 - 05.2016
- Completed internship and co-taught in classroom of English Language Learners, implementing instructional strategies that enhanced language acquisition and promoted academic achievement.
Education
Master of Science - Theory & Practice in Teacher Education
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN05-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN05-2015
Skills
- Instructional Coaching
- New Teacher Mentoring
- Professional Development Facilitation
- Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction
- Dyslexia & Reading Intervention
- MTSS/RTI Systems
- Curriculum Implementation
- Assessment and Data Analysis
- Classroom Observation, Reflection and Feedback
- Relationship Building
- Classroom Management Systems
- Teacher Support and Retention
Presentations & Publications
- Co-Presenter, Implementing the 6-Minute Solution to Improve Oral Reading Fluency: An Action Research Study Literacy Association of Tennessee Conference, 2023
- Co-Author, 'Big Classroom Dreams, Small Teacher Budget', The Teacher Advocate, 2022
- Co-Author, 'Utilizing Instructional Coaching to Improve Oral Reading Fluency', Tennessee Literacy Journal, 2021
- Co-Presenter, Utilizing Instructional Coaching to Improve Oral Reading Fluency: An Action Research Study, TN LEAD Conference, 2018
Certification
- Tennessee Professional Educator License: Elementary K-6
Honors & Recognition
- Reading Teacher of the Year, Literacy Association of Tennessee, 2022
- Teacher of the Year, Hillsboro Elementary/Middle School, 2020-2021
Leadership, Committees, & Service
- International Literacy Association, Active Member
- Delta Kappa Gamma: Rho Chapter, First Vice President, 2025-Present
- Tennessee TCAP State Committee Member, 2024-Present
- Literacy Association of Tennessee: Williamson County Branch, Secretary, 2022-2024
- Delta Kappa Gamma: Rho Chapter, Secretary, 2022-2024
Timeline
Building Level Mentor Lead
Mill Creek Elementary School
08.2023 - Current
Literacy & Instructional Coach
Mill Creek Elementary School
08.2023 - Current
Second Grade Teacher & Team Lead
Mill Creek Elementary School
08.2021 - 05.2023
Second Grade Teacher
Hillsboro Elem/Middle School
08.2020 - 05.2021
Fourth Grade Teacher
Hillsboro Elem/Middle School
08.2016 - 05.2020
Kindergarten Teacher
Lenoir City Elementary School
08.2015 - 05.2016
Master of Science - Theory & Practice in Teacher Education
University of Tennessee
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Tennessee